- Consistent diet, exercise, supplementation, and detox work together. Success requires you to follow all components exactly for 10 days straight, not just picking and choosing whichever appeals to you.
- Zone two training (50-70% max heart rate) for 30 minutes, three times weekly is the Goldilocks dose for thyroid patients. Too much exercise worsens thyroid function while too little gives minimal benefit.
- Your thyroid needs multiple specific nutrients to function optimally – thyroid glandular, T3 conversion support, T2, and B vitamins work synergistically to boost thyroid hormone production and conversion.
- Walking 10,000 steps daily matters as much as structured exercise. The low-intensity activity helps burn extra calories, supports metabolism, and improves overall health without stressing your system.
- Thyroid results come from the combination of therapies working together, not from any single intervention. Supplements accelerate results by weeks or months, but they work best alongside proper diet and exercise.
Ready to do something about your thyroid problem but unsure of where to start?
Enter the 10-day thyroid reset:
A complete done-for-you 10-day plan created by me (a thyroid expert) designed to help bring your thyroid back to optimal function to provide you with more energy, faster weight loss, and better thyroid health.
Is this guaranteed to cure your thyroid problem in 10 days or less?
Absolutely not.
But…
It is the first place I would start if I had a thyroid problem and it will definitely help you feel better… or your money back! Just kidding, it’s free. But, still, it works.
Ready to get started? Here’s an overview of what your next 10 days will look like:
Thyroid Reset Overview
I’ve estimated that about 80-90% of thyroid patients can dramatically improve their symptoms by simply making a few tweaks to the way they live their lives.
The key here is that some changes are far more impactful than others and most thyroid patients have no idea which ones work and which ones don’t.
The good news is, you don’t have to worry about that if you follow these rules:
Your diet for the next 10 days:
- Follow the perfect thyroid diet perfectly for 10 days (meals outlined below)
- These 4 meals were crafted to include thyroid-supporting superfoods that are nutrient-dense and mineral-rich.
Your exercise routine for the next 10 days:
- 3x sessions of zone two training per week for 30 minutes
- 10,000 steps per day minimum
Your supplement routine for the next 10 days:
- Thyroid Glandular+ (1-2 capsules per day) – Provides animal thyroid gland powder which includes hormones, prohormones, and enzymes that support thyroid function.
- T3 Conversion Booster (2 capsules per day) -Naturally helps your body produce more T3 thyroid hormone.
- Essential T2 (1 capsule per day) – Provides a source of bio-identical T2 thyroid hormone.
- Thyroid B Complex (1 capsule per day) – Provides pre-methylated and pre-activated B vitamins for energy and metabolism support.
Your detox routine for the next 10 days:
- Actively avoid endocrine-disrupting chemicals
- Drink at least 64 ounces of filtered water each day
- Have at least one deep sweat each week
- Take a detox bath 2-3x each week
Rules:
- Follow the guidelines exactly as outlined. If you miss a day, or meal, or otherwise mess up, your 10-day count restarts.
- No cheating (no cheat meals or missed days)
- Use every therapy as outlined. If you alter the program in any way then you risk not getting the results you want.
#1. The Perfect Thyroid Diet
Meal #1. Fruit and Vegetable Morning Protein Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of orange juice (not from concentrate)
- 2 ounces of pomegranate juice (fresh if possible but from concentrate is ok)
- 6 ounces of water
- 20 grams of plant-protein powder (you can increase your protein intake based on your needs)
- 15 grams of hemp hearts
- 15 grams of chia seeds
- ~120 grams of frozen banana (roughly one medium-sized banana)
- 140 grams of frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries, your choice)
- 2 cups of greens (spinach, chard, or kale)
Instructions:
- Place ingredients into a high-powered blender in this order:
- Liquid
- Protein powder
- Frozen fruit
- Chia seeds and hemp hearts
- Greens
- Blend on high for ~2 minutes until desired consistency is reached.
- Enjoy right away!
Nutrition facts for this meal:
- Calories 499
- Total fat 13 grams (17%)
- Saturated fat 0.9 grams (5%)
- Cholesterol 1mg (0%)
- Sodium 292mg (13%)
- Total carbohydrates 74.3 grams (27%)
- Dietary fiber 15.4 grams
- Total sugars 41.6 grams
- Protein 28.6 grams
Meal #2. Collagen and Protein Shake with Macadamia Nuts and Dark Chocolate
Ingredients:
For the collagen protein shake:
- 20 grams of plant protein
- 20 grams of collagen
- 1 teaspoon of Ceylon cinnamon
- 2.5 grams of creatine
- 500 mg of cocoa flavonols
The macadamia nuts and dark chocolate snack:
- 1 serving of macadamia nuts
- 2 ounces of dark chocolate (at least 70% dark chocolate but higher is preferred)
Instructions:
- Add 8-12 ounces of purified water into a blender.
- Weigh out and add:
- 20 grams of plant-based protein powder
- 20 grams of collagen (make sure to use 20 grams and not just one scoop)
- Roughly 1 teaspoon of Ceylon cinnamon (use over Saigon cinnamon)
- 2.5 grams of creatine monohydrate
- Roughly 500 mg of cocoa flavonols in powder form (this is not the same as cocoa powder)
- Blend or pulse the ingredients until they are mixed together (this will only take about 5-10 seconds).
- Enjoy immediately.
Nutrition facts for this meal:
- Calories 189
- Total fat 1.1 grams (1%)
- Cholesterol 4mg (1%)
- Sodium 343mg (15%)
- Total carbohydrate 3.8 grams (1%)
- Dietary fiber 2.3 grams
- Total sugars 0.1 grams
- Protein 39 grams
#3. Veggie Hummus Plus Protein
Ingredients:
- 200 grams of frozen broccoli
- 100 grams frozen riced cauliflower
- 45 grams of shitake mushrooms
- 1 small potato (roughly 100 grams)
- 1-3 cloves of garlic (depending on preference)
- 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- 100 grams of cooked chicken breast (option to substitute cooked chicken for lentils, protein powder, or another protein equivalent that equals roughly 30 grams of protein)
Nutrition Facts for the Veggie Meal (with cooked chicken breast):
- Calories 413
- Total fat 17.4 grams (22%)
- Saturated fat 2.1 grams (10%)
- Cholesterol 64mg (21%)
- Sodium 268mg (12%)
- Total carbohydrate 39.5 grams (14%)
- Dietary fiber 10.9 grams (39%)
- Total sugars 8.7 grams
- Protein 30.9 grams
Instructions:
For the cooked chicken breast:
- Prepare multiple chicken breasts to cook at one time (no more than 3-4 days worth).
- Season chicken breast with salt and pepper (or your seasonings of choice. Additional options may include garlic, paprika, onion powder, etc.).
- Bake in an oven or in an air fryer at 375 degrees until an internal temperature of 160-165 degrees is reached.
- Remove the chicken and allow it to stand for 5-10 minutes.
- Measure out 100 grams of your cooked chicken breast and eat it on the side of your veggie hummus.
For the veggie hummus:
- Start a pot of boiling water (one big enough to hold all of the ingredients).
- Weigh the frozen vegetables, potatoes, and mushrooms. Cut the small potato into cubes.
- Add frozen broccoli florets, frozen riced cauliflower, potato, mushrooms, and garlic to the boiling water.
- Allow the water to begin boiling again and cook for 9 minutes.
- Drain the liquid and place it back into the pot you used to boil everything.
- Drizzle one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil on top and add salt and pepper.
- Use an immersion blender for 1-2 minutes until you’ve created a vegetable hummus.
- Place on a plate and top with additional salt and pepper (if needed).
- Enjoy!
#4. Final Meal (Several options)
Options & Recipes:
#2. Your Exercise Routine
Exercise is one of those things that you’re either undervaluing or overvaluing.
My experience is that most thyroid patients underestimate the benefits of exercise and are simply not taking advantage of it.
But there are always a select few who try to brute force their way into perfect health with exercise as well.
Regardless of where you fit, here’s what you need to know:
For thyroid patients, exercise is non-negotiable.
Not only does it provide general benefits to your entire health, it has a direct boosting effect on thyroid function.
And this benefit is independent of the effects it has on muscle growth which further enhances thyroid function.
Combine these with the general benefits that it applies to sleep and mood and it’s a no-brainer for supporting your thyroid.
The thing you have to remember about exercise is that it’s very much a Goldilocks type of treatment.
Too much and you can actually make your thyroid worse.
Too little and you really just don’t get much benefit.
You need the exact right amount.
It just so happens that this exact right amount falls into the category of zone 2 training.
Zone 2 training is any exercise that brings your heart rate to 50-70% of your maximum.
All you have to do is pick any exercise that gets your heart rate to this level and keep it there for 30 minutes because that’s where the magic happens.
Any exercise will do, but I’ll give you one of my favorites:
I call it the 3/15/30 treadmill workout.
You walk on a treadmill at 3 miles per hour on a 15% incline for 30 minutes.
This is probably the easiest way to get yourself into this zone and it’s available to almost everybody regardless of their fitness level.
And if that is too intense for you, you can always adjust down the incline or your speed.
For instance:
2.5 miles per hour at a 12% incline for 30 minutes or whatever you need.
This exact workout should be done 3 times per week for a total of 90 thyroid-enhancing minutes.
On top of this, you’ll also need to stay active with low-intensity training:
Low-Intensity Interval Training
Why does it matter? Well, for starters, research has shown that 1 hour of walking per day is enough to reduce your risk of premature death by 39%.
But let’s assume you don’t care about premature death, it also has a huge impact on your metabolism as well.
A simple brisk walk at the end of the day can help you burn an extra 150 calories per day, which, amounts to over 1,500 calories over the course of 10 this 10-day thyroid reset.
And it’s for this reason that I’ve included the 10,000 steps per day requirement.
It doesn’t matter if you get the majority of those steps at once or if you get them slowly throughout the day, just make sure you get at least 10,000 steps per day.
#3. Your Supplement Routine
Are supplements really, really required for this 10-day reset?
Yes, and I’ll tell you why:
Aside from the fact that many thyroid patients are deficient in thyroid-supporting nutrients, they also do one very important thing…
They help you get results faster.
And getting results faster builds momentum. And building momentum builds more results. And the cycle continues until you end up where you want to be.
Are they technically required for you to feel better? No, but they can shave weeks to months off that journey, and that matters.
Here are the supplements I recommend for this 10-day reset and why:
Thyroid Glandular+
Thyroid glandulars are among the strongest over-the-counter supplements available to thyroid patients because they contain hormones, prohormones, and enzymes found in the animal thyroid gland.
Not only does your thyroid gland use these building blocks to create thyroid hormone, you also get a small amount of actual thyroid hormone that can be used right away.
The result? A boost to thyroid function leads to more energy, more ambition, and a slight boost to metabolism making everything else you need to do a little bit easier.
T3 Conversion Booster
Second, we have T3 Conversion Booster.
This particular supplement contains a combination of ingredients designed to help your body create more of the most powerful thyroid hormone known as T3 through the process of peripheral thyroid conversion.
While thyroid glandulars provide direct support to the thyroid gland, T3 Conversion Booster helps the cells in your peripheral tissues get the thyroid hormone that they need.
This is critical because T3 is the thyroid hormone that activates nuclear receptors in your cells which provides all of the benefits of thyroid hormone.
Essential T2 or T2 Cream
Thyroid Glandular+ provides the thyroid hormones, T3 Conversion Booster helps you create more T3, and Essential provides you with a bio-identical source of the most biologically active form of T2 thyroid hormone.
Both Essential T2 and T2 Cream contain 3,5 diiodo-l-thyronine, also known as T2 thyroid hormone, which is the only thyroid hormone available over the counter.
Even though you may have never heard about T2 before, it’s still very much a thyroid hormone, much like T4 or T3, but its actions are specific to fat cells, metabolism, liver cells, and muscle cells.
We are learning more and more about T2, but, from what we do know, it appears to complement the function of T3 at the cellular receptor by enhancing nuclear binding.
So not only does T2 provide its own benefits, it also supports the function of other thyroid hormones.
For purposes of this reset, you can get T2 in capsule form or in cream form (it’s worth pointing out that it’s the only thyroid hormone available in cream form).
Because the healthy body produces T2, I believe it’s essential to take T2 to mimic this healthy thyroid hormone production in anyone with a known or suspected thyroid problem.
Thyroid B Complex
To complement these other thyroid-supporting supplements, we have Thyroid B Complex.
This supplement includes a combination of pre-methylated and pre-activated B vitamins (along with folate and choline) designed to support energy production, metabolism, and adrenal health.
Many thyroid patients are lacking in B vitamins which leads to symptoms like depression and fatigue.
It’s already difficult enough to make healthy choices without these added symptoms, so Thyroid B Complex is included here to fight these very symptoms.
Sustained and long-lasting energy is going to be needed if you are going to cook your meals and exercise regularly over the next 10 days and there’s no quicker way to obtain these benefits than with a pre-methylated B complex.
#4. Your Detox Routine
One of the fastest ways to get a near-immediate boost to thyroid function is through simple avoidance of certain chemicals.
These chemicals, known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, are compounds that you and I come into contact with on a daily basis.
For most people, they aren’t really a big deal because exposure to them is limited to an amount that the liver can easily take care of.
But if you have an existing thyroid problem, things are different.
These chemicals and compounds can disrupt thyroid function at the cellular level and have the potential to make thyroid function worse.
That’s the bad news.
The good news is that it’s both incredibly easy to avoid these compounds, and eliminate them, which provides an almost near-immediate boost to thyroid function.
It’s for this reason that this detox section was added to this 10-day reset.
This isn’t some woo-woo set of recommendations that you have to follow either, all you need to do is take advantage of existing physiologic processes in your body that have been designed to take care of these compounds.
Your job is two-fold:
Augment and avoid.
- Augment – by doing some simple things like eating healthy and drinking enough water you can help your body eliminate harmful compounds through your urine and stool.
- Avoid – By avoiding your exposure to these compounds you will limit the pressure put on the elimination systems in your body.
It sounds complicated, but it’s really not.
Here’s what you need to do for the next 10 days:
As long as you follow each of the recommendations listed above (diet and exercise), you will hit most of these with ease.
That said, it’s still worth pointing out why they are important and how they help:
- Drink at least 64 ounces of filtered water each day (not from a plastic container!) – This will help support the elimination of these compounds through your kidneys and urine.
- Sweat as often as possible, especially when working out – Your body eliminates compounds through your sweat. The more you sweat, the more you will detox. To facilitate this process, make sure you are working out with sufficient intensity to get a deep sweat. Thyroid patients who are underrated are less prone to sweating which is why this one is very important.
- Move your body to enhance lymphatic flow – Your lymphatic system eliminates cellular waste and can be increased with daily movement and regular exercise (if you exercise as recommended above then you don’t need to worry about this).
- Eat foods that activate liver enzymes – That means eating plenty of cruciferous vegetables, foods with high sulfur content, and plenty of fiber. If you follow the meals above, you won’t need to think twice about this.
On top of these, you’ll also want to practice some simple avoidance:
- Stop touching receipts or thermal paper of any kind (they contain bisphenol-a)
- Drink out of glass cups or containers (avoid plastic of any kind)
- Eat the highest quality food you can afford (non-GMO, organic, grass-fed, wild-caught, etc.)
- Check your cosmetics for chemicals (use clean brands or check the ingredient list of your existing cosmetics against the EWG database)
- Avoid microwaving your food in plastic containers
- Store your food in glass containers (not plastic containers)
- Use common sense and limit your exposure to chemicals that have an obviously noxious smell, feel, or taste (if you clean your bathroom with chemicals, ventilate the area and don’t linger, etc.).
- Avoid cooking with non-stick pans
The final thing you’ll want to do is take a detox bath at least two to three times each week.
A detox bath is a simple way to encourage your body to sweat, absorb essential thyroid-supporting nutrients, and help your body relax.
Here’s what you need:
- A bathtub filled with hot water (as hot as you can tolerate) – The goal here is to heat up your body and encourage sweating (sweating is an excellent way to help your body detox).
- 1-2 cups of Epsom Salt – Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate which will be absorbed through your skin throughout the bath. Magnesium has a calming effect on your body as well as thyroid-boosting properties.
- 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda – Baking soda has cleansing and soothing properties for the skin thereby reducing stimulation to your nervous system (an excellent way to reduce stress and support adrenal function).
- 15-20 drops of lavender essential oil – Lavender essential oil has a calming effect on the body and may help balance cortisol levels.
- A big towel to wrap yourself in afterward – This is to encourage your body to sweat afterward.
- Optional: dry brush and/or moisturizer for after – Dry brushing supports skin exfoliation, lymphatic flow, and stress reduction. Moisturizing has a similar effect, but not to the same degree. If you have access to either, use them!
Simply put hot water into your bath, mix the ingredients together, and hop in for 20-40 minutes and you’ll provide nourishing benefits to your thyroid and adrenals.
Repeat 2-3 times per week throughout this 10-day reset.
Final Thoughts
Do these things for 10 days and you will be well on your way to improving your thyroid.
But there’s really no reason to stop at 10 days, you can continue using these treatments indefinitely.
The longer you use them, the better you will feel.
It’s that simple.
Have some additional questions? Check out the FAQs below:
FAQs
It’s pretty simple:
The thyroid reset is designed to supercharge your thyroid.
Why does it matter?
Because if you want to live a long and healthy life, at a healthy and normal weight, you need your thyroid functioning at 100%.
I can’t imagine a hormone system that is more important for getting there than your thyroid.
If you are overweight, yes, it probably will.
While not specifically designed for weight loss, the effect of eating this clean, detoxing chemicals out of your body, and supporting your thyroid will most likely have a positive effect on your weight and body composition.
So you can use it as a defacto weight loss program if that’s what you’re looking for.
You can do whatever you want, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
The farther you stray from the recommendation listed above, the less likely you are to get results. It’s that simple.
People tend to want to change things for their own, but the reality is you are more likely to grow the more uncomfortable that you are.
If you find this program a little challenging, that’s perfectly fine and not unexpected.
All I can tell you is that changing your life is worth it, but it’s just something you’ll have to trust me on.
Again, you don’t have to do anything, but I would highly recommend it.
These supplements will give you the extra oomph you need to make these hard changes, stick with them, and, most importantly, provide a much-needed boost to your thyroid and metabolism.
Probably not, but there’s a possibility that it may.
The reason I have to hedge on this question is because each case of thyroid disease is different and not every case can be “cured” in the traditional sense.
While it is true that many thyroid patients can put their disease into remission, not every case is curable.
Even though you may not be able to cure your condition, you can definitely still improve your situation.
Following this reset will not only improve your thyroid, even if you don’t have one, it will still help you feel better, which is really what matters.
Absolutely.
Even without a thyroid, you should still care a lot about thyroid function.
It’s impossible to support your thyroid gland (because it’s no longer in your body), but you can still support thyroid function in peripheral tissues.
And whether or not you have a thyroid, it’s still important to optimize all thyroid hormone levels (including T4, T3, and T2), support thyroid cellular function, and pay attention to peripheral thyroid conversion.
This same information applies to those post-radioactive iodine ablation as well.
Scientific References
#1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21276278
#2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6694559
#3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6694559
#4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17341711
#5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21745527
#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12137178
#7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3049061
#8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1524572/?page=1
#9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15007197
#10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9701160
#11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4429650/
#12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20150599
#13. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4429650/
#14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3630857
#15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2721352/
#16. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23046013
#17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8834378
#18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3049061
#19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2833301/
#20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20351569
#21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3163673/
#22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3929142/
#23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16148529
#24. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5490534/
#25. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26414233
Question: I keep searching for something I can agree with. I love all your information. I however have hyperthyroidism and I’m wondering how your plan works with this? There’s not as much help for this. I currently take LDN (low dose naltrexone) which is an alternative to killing off my thyroid. My DR believes it’s more of an auto immune issue. Any helpful thoughts greatly appreciate.
Hi Patrice,
This particular program is designed for hypothyroid patients, not necessarily those with hyperthyroidism. Many of the therapies listed here will help with both conditions, though.
What about those of us that don’t have a thyroid anymore? Would this still be beneficial? I had a TT for cancer. Thanks!
Hi Tabitha,
Yes, the information here is still relevant for those who are post-thyroidectomy.
You can also find more info here: https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-thyroidectomy/
Hi Dr. Childs,
I had a total thyroidectomy should I follow this thyroid reset diet or would it be pointless having no thyroid to reset? I am so careful with my diet and I am at the gym doing classes four times per week. I mix it up two weight training classes (Bodypump) yoga and a combination class of yoga and Pilates. I walk also. My weight won’t budge. My thyroid levels are stable with Synthroid and Cytomel. I juice vegetables once per day and take selenium, magnesium, zinc, L-Tyrosine, B complex, EFA, probiotics. I wonder if I have insulin resistance. I’ve had no thyroid for ten years plus I’m turning 50 soon and it’s feeling impossible for my weight to budge
Hi Jodi,
Most of the information listed here is still relevant for those without a thyroid because T4 to T3 conversion is still important if you are taking T4 medication.
I was told I shouldn’t take Cytomel because I have CAD. Do your products work like Cytomel and are they safe for me to take?
Vicki
Hi Vicki,
Our products contain vitamins and minerals, they do not contain hormones such as T3 or T2.
Hi
I wondering if these supplements help with raised cholesterol, particularly with high ldl level. I have had partial removal of thyroid and taking eltroxin.
My cardiologist put me on 25 MCG of Liothyronine SOD. I was already taking Levothyroxine 112. My hair started falling out at an alarming rate. Now he wants me to continue the Liothyronine and cut the Levothyroxine in half. I am very nervous. I worry if I keep losing my hair, it will never grow back.
Hi Peggy,
Generally, hair loss from liothyronine is temporary. I’ve written extensively about hair loss and thyroid function which you can read about here including tips on how to prevent hair loss: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-hair-loss/
I would check out this article for more information which should be helpful for your situation!
I’m a 4 year papillary thyroid cancer survivor who is in desperate need of some guidance. I was diagnosed back in 2014, when they found a lump on the side of my neck, which later came back as a 4cm cancerous nodule. During my TT they removed that monster and some cancerous lymph-nodes. I was also told that they also removed my parathyroids, reconstructed them(whatever that means), and then put them back in.
First of all, is the 10 Day Thyroid Reset Diet good for patients without a thyroid and who have to have both hyper and hypothyroidism, in order to suppress the cancerous tissue from regrowth? My last thyroid level check was back in May and my T3 Free was 2.90, my T4 Free was a 1.20 and my TSH at a 1.63.
Secondly, my levels for insulin, estrogen, testosterone, leptin and cortisol have never been tested either. Here lately I’ve been to the point of exhaustion as I’ve never experienced before. It’s gotten so bad as to the point of falling and staying asleep all day, sometimes the whole weekend too. I use to work out 5 days a week, since last September, but had to stop a month ago, due to lack of energy and other symptoms.
I also take my daily supplements of a scoop of super collagen, a 1/4 teaspoon of bulk supplement’s ascorbic acid powder, in the am and maybe an hour or two after I take my Synthroid and Cytomel. Upon reading it seems I shouldn’t take any calcium supplements til 4 hours after taking my thyroid meds. Is this true? Maybe this is the cause of my body feeling sooo tired and out of whack? I feel mustarding up energy, just to go potty, is quite the feat. I also supplement with Island Nature’s Ultra 30 Probiotics, ON Opti-Women MultiVitamins, Viva Naturals Krill Oil, over the counter Calcium 600mg with Vitamin D 3 800 IU and Glutamine, most of all which I take twice daily.
My endocrinologist and primary care physician, both have ran my Thyroid levels and CBC panel, with no answer in sight, because all the tests come back “normal.” I am currently take Synthroid 137mcg in the morning, along with 5mcg of Cytomel. My endo just advised me to start taking my Cytomel tablet, in the afternoon, for an added boost of energy, that I have yet to feel.
With all that being said could you recommend for me? I’m gasping for air, hoping I get pointed in the right direction. Thanks in advance and any response is greatly appreciated. Looking forward to hearing back from you soon! Good night and God bless.
Hi Jeannie,
It would probably be a good idea to check your total T3 and free T3 as these tend to correlate with thyroid status better than TSH.
My endocrinologist finally got back to me. I sent her all the info, along with your websites, and she stated that everything from her end looks within range. It’s so annoying when doctors don’t listen to their patients. I thibkb we know a bit more about our bodies, especially when we feel something is off. So, I’ve since emailed my PCP with all your info and websites, so, now it’s another waiting game. I’m also looking into other doctors who have more knowledge about thyroid issues, in the Houston area.
In your response, I thought free and total T3 were one in the same. So, instead of, looking at my TSH, T3 and T4, as whole, it’s better just to go off my T3, in cases like mine? Also, should I hold off in ordering your suggested supplements? Or should I just start somewhere? I’m also going to start the Paleo diet this coming Monday.
Thanks for your medical advice. It’s all greatly appreciated.
Hi Jeannie,
The supplements and diet shouldn’t cause any negative effects so it would be reasonable to start with the therapies that you have control over.
chalilynn@aol.com
Can I take the supplements if I’m taking Armour? Or, are these just for people who are not on medication yet?
Hi Chali,
All of these supplements can be taken in conjunction with or without thyroid medication.
Hi Dr. Childs.
2 years ago my TSH was in upper normal range (4.9). But I had the symptoms (hair loss, cold sensitivity,…). When I started exercising my TSH went up drastically (up to 9), I also started to have trouble sleeping. I stooped exercising TSH went back to 4.9, sleep returned after some time. Exercise was very light, but looked like my body couldn’t handle it.
When I started exercising again trying more slow approach – again my TSH almost doubled. My doctor put me on synthroid.
I think he did based on numbers he saw (9).
I am able to exercise now (a little). But none of my other symptoms have improved ( hair loss,…). And my T3 is very low (lower then before I started the meds!!!). It doesn’t seem to concern my doctor, because my TSH is normal. I think my T3 is low because I exercise. It was a case before, right?
My cholesterol is border line now as well. So I do not know how to balance meds, exercise, food that I do not hurt my body instead of helping it? Any thoughts on my case?
Appreciate your help,
Lina
Hi Lina,
I think the best thing you can do is to learn and understand more about the importance of the other thyroid lab tests. This post should help you do that: https://www.restartmed.com/normal-thyroid-levels/
Hello Doctor Westin Childs. If we have mild hypthyroidism and follow 10 days strict diet and lifestyle you advised. Can we bring back thyroid to normal and cure this? Or is it something like we need to be on medication for lifetime?
Hi Sharada,
Some people can cure their condition but it just depends. I would take a look at this article for more information: https://www.restartmed.com/can-hypothyroidism-be-cured/
Loved reading this, a little overwhelmed but ready for change. Would love more info!
Hi Gina,
Glad you found it helpful! I have over 260 articles on thyroid disease so there is plenty to read and learn 🙂
I can’t afford your products 🙁
Hi Wilma,
No problem! I still have many therapies which you can take advantage of here: https://www.restartmed.com/natural-thyroid-remedies/
Your website Dr. Childs is by far the most comprehensive tool for us Thyroid folks, I have ever seen. With only this one article, I have a general idea of the course of treatment and I can be checking things as questions would rise for sure. This is a well of information for us!
I do not see where I can search if somebody has asked this question before. This is my first attempt to ask you a question directly Dr. Westin and it is very important for me.
Can you make recommendations whether or not stool tests should be utilized more than once to be re-evaluating a Young 12 years old Thyroid patient for her weight gain and some stomach issues like gas, discomfort/pain after eating and occasionally blood on the stool with a constipation? She was diagnosed with Graves disease in 2015, but we were able to bring the Thyroid function to normal with Lemon Balm, Bugleweed tinctures and Supplements. She has been with Normal Thyroid levels since September of 2017, except that she gained a lot of weight and I am concerned that she might be becoming HypoThyroid now. We are treated by an Endocrinology Professor at Children’s Hospital of Alabama and a Functional Medicine Doctor in Atlanta, Georgia. The FM doctor wants another stool test, which is quite expensive. I wanted to ask you about that since I have not heard you talking about doing stool tests at all for evaluating the Thyroid and/or other underlying issues.
Thank You !
Your Web site is very, very Useful, Doctor Westin!
I just tried to post a question, but I do not see it coming up. Is it possible that it is not taking any new questions or does it take time for the question to be posted on here?
You seem to have addressed hypo but I am hyper please give information addressing that issue – foods to eat and foods to stay away from etc.
thanks
Hi Joy,
You can find more information on what to eat if you have hyperthyroidism here: https://www.restartmed.com/graves-disease-diet/
Hi there,
I, unlike a lot of your patients, was born without a thyroid and take medication in replacement. Therefore my body produces no TS3 & TS4 naturally. Do you have any recommendations or amendments to this ten day diet which would more speicifically apply to me?
Hi Laura,
The principles are largely the same whether you have a thyroid or not because you still must take thyroid medication which is an exact replica of what your thyroid would make normally and that medication still must be converted just like it does in people with a thyroid gland. The only difference is that you need to be more aggressive with your thyroid hormone medication replacement compared to those people with a thyroid gland.
You briefly mentioned water. I’d like to read more about how increased water intake improves Hashimoto’s.
Hi Ina,
I wouldn’t say water is a therapy for Hashimoto’s but instead, that hydration is required for optimal health in general.
Hi Interesting article. You talk about Insulin resistance. As well as having had a Total Thyroidectomy I have been type 1 diabetic for over 40 years. I am unsure how to measure insulin in this case as I am sure I am bound to be insulin resistant. Please can you give me any information as to how to deal with TT and Type 1 diabetes. I am now taking T3 only but am not losing much weight. When I first added 2 x10mcg to my 100 T4 I did lose wait but felt anxious. I have gradually changed to T3 only. I may not be taking enough. I take 30mcg in two doses
So I noticed that you did not included menopause in the information about exercise. Can you comment about this.
Hi Dr. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis this February. I was taking mesalamine but only helped for a book and went back to symptoms. I found another doctor and I’m not taking mesalamine but he has me on probiotics, colostrum, and other supplements and just the same ir only helped a month and now back to showing symptoms. Bloody stool, constipated, watery stool with ball like stool. My thyroid was checked and turned out fine. Would you still recommend me those supplements or anything else. I want to help my gut and get my bowels back to normal.
Greetings Doctor, l did not read all the comments so l don’t know if this was addressed: my thyroid went haywire 1994 with graves and hashimotos. Around 2004 l was placed on levoxyl and currently take 75mcg per day. Is it too late for me to “heal”?
Hi Kim,
There’s a fairly high chance that you have some degree of permanent damage since you’ve had Hashimoto’s for a few decades.
Typo about detoxing bath. You have said to put ingredients into your but. Shouldn’t it be bath? grins.
Hi De,
Haha, yes! Please do not put those ingredients into your butt, put them into the bath instead. The typo has been fixed, thank you!
I have the compound heterozygous MTHFR mutation. Should there be any concern for me following this regimen and taking those supplements along with the ones that I currently take for my condition?
Hi Enid,
Not at all. You can also check out adding this one: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-b-complex/
I know this sounds odd, but chia seeds set off a number of gi symptoms for me. Are will this work if I skip the chia seeds in my smoothie? Is there anything else I could use instead? (Basil seeds maybe)?
Also, I take tirosint and t3, 5 mcg – is this diet and supplementation in addition to those?
Thank you!
Hi Sherri,
You can swap out chia for hemp or flax, but I wouldn’t do anything other than these 3.
These guidelines do not take the place of thyroid medication so you’d continue taking whatever you were before you started.
What about the cost of the food then your stuff. Budget blow out here we come. One world for the rich another for those working poor, what do you do for us?
Hi J lowry,
I don’t really think about treatments in terms of their cost but rather their effectiveness. What I would say is that investing in your health is worth it, and even if you have to spend more right now, you will save way more in the long run.
I’ve explained this in more detail here where I go through how much not treating your thyroid will ultimately end up costing you: https://www.restartmed.com/cost-of-hypothyroidism/
The short answer is that spending a few hundred bucks right now is much cheaper than doing nothing.
If you read my statement again you might get.
Hi J Lowry,
I read it again but it didn’t change my response. If you have any further clarification or questions, feel free to share them here.
I’m in the USA. Grew up cooking with tsp/ tbs, oz, cups. Are grams “weight”? Never measured in grams, always avoid the rare recipes that use grams. (Don’t own spoons w/”grams” written on them, or measuring cups. Sarcasm.)
Hi Trish,
I’m in the USA as well. Grams are a unit of measurement that allows you to weigh out your food (but you can use ounces or pounds) and easily replicate the recipes with exactness. You can sometimes get away with using tablespoons as proxy measurements, but they aren’t as accurate as actually weighing it out.
This is why you’ll see baking recipes say use 250 grams of flour instead of something like 3 cups. Each cup of flour can have more or less weight depending on the density of the flour, how it was measured, and so on. But none of this matters when you weigh your food. If you haven’t done this, I would highly recommend it as it’s a game changer.
You’ll need a food scale which you can grab off amazon for $10 or less.
I tried something similar to the first meal of the day (Fruit and Vegetable Morning Protein Smoothie) and it gave me terrible diarrhea, so I don’t know, but it’s probably not a meal for everyone.
As for plastics, how about some Tritan? It’s supposedly OK…
So I decided to give it another chance. For the first time, I developed a coated tongue, sore throat, and finally mucus. So I tried it again, this time all organic, as I suspected possible chemicals in the food. With the same result. So the third time I proceeded by doing everything mentioned in the article, except for the diet (and filtering the water). I ate what I was used to. And the result really came! My thyroid gland is functioning as it should again, without medication!! I still tried changing the diet slowly and item by item after the tests, but again with the same result. So this procedure (for me) really works, but without said diet. On the contrary, it seems to be quite dangerous… And I really wonder why this is so? I eat the individual items listed in it occasionally and have never had any (allergic) reaction to any of them.