It happened like most of my health discoveries happen.
I stumbled across a thyroid article on Facebook. It was written by Tom Brimeyer, a well-known thyroid genius.
And like most farmer/blogger/nursing school dropouts, I was fascinated by this new theory behind the cause of hypothyroidism and the science behind why certain foods and practices play a MAJOR role.
So I dug deeper, researched more, and found some amazing discoveries that COMPLETELY changed my thyroid health. And I was truly shocked at the difference it made.
Weight loss and Thyroid Health.
I have an interesting story. I started to suffer from mild hypothyroidism AFTER I had lost weight. For most people, it’s the opposite. They struggle with weight loss because of their hypothyroidism.
After I reached my weight loss goals, I did have improvement in pain and inflammation. But I was burned out, suffered from dizziness (not similar to my balance problems, more of an exhausted dizzy as opposed to an inner ear dizzy), and was freezing cold all of the time (even in the summer; it was ridiculous). My blood pressure was also incredibly low.
So for me, my hypothyroid symptoms arose when I “hit my target weight.” You know… THE high school weight. The one that you’re super proud of. And I was (and still am) proud of the hard work and healthy lifestyle I had accomplished.
But, I didn’t realize at the time that throughout my weight loss attempts, I had harmed my body.
How I (unknowingly) harmed my body during my weight loss journey:
Avoiding/Demonizing Sugar.
One of the first things you come across when you try to eat health is the claim that sugar, inherently, is bad. You might find some people who say only whole sugars are good (fruit, honey, maple syrup). There are others who say anything sweet should be eaten on occasion. And then you’ll find people who claim outrageous and untrue things like “cancer eats sugar” or “candida lives on sugar.”
Trust me, hear these phrases enough times and pretty soon you’ll restrict until you’ve gone days without one sweet thing that’s touched your lips. Then you’ll claim that you’ll feel amazing but really what’s happening in your body is that your stress hormones (cortisol) are at an all-time high. They give your body a false sense of energy.
You’ll be pretty sure this is the answer to all things in the world. You do, that is, until you hit the crash. It’s then that your adrenal glands will poop out on you.
The shit hits the fan and all of the sudden you can’t think of anything BUT sugar. You want that little sweet demon and you want it now.
Please understand that there is a place for healthy sugar in the diet and it can actually have AMAZING health benefits for your metabolism.
Going hungry when there weren’t healthy choices.
Once you’ve got your “healthy diet/lifestyle” down, you don’t want to break the progress. So you plan and plan and make sure you have the right foods available all the time. You meal plan and meal prep, but life isn’t planned.
And when the time comes that you’re at a soccer game, or you just drove two hours to pick up a new goat that is adorable as all heck and you are STARVING….
If you’re like I was, you choose to go hungry instead of taking care of your body. You decline snacks or treats because they aren’t on your healthy list, and you wait until you can get back home. You suffer the hunger pains to avoid any bad foods hitting your lips. And you’re proud that you avoided temptation.
But, in that process of waiting and denying yourself food, your body does something to keep you going. It releases stress hormones (cortisol) to keep your energy up.
Thinking having a low weight equals being healthy.
I get it. We will probably always equate thin with being healthy. So we focus on that damn scale, don’t we? We focus on it so hard that we almost need a friend to come to our house each morning and salmon slap us across the face each time we think about weighing ourselves.
The problem with focusing on weight is that our weight is lowest when we are hungry or have just pooped (hey, let’s be honest here). And feeling lighter/and hungry in the morning whilst at the same time glaring at a number on a scale is just—I’m gonna say it—bullshit. It’s the worst form of negative feedback possible. Because we haven’t eaten anything yet for the day and we’re congratulating ourselves for being super duper skinny. Do you realize how nuts that is?
I am much happier when I focus on my thyroid health and being strong and flexible, above anything else!
Sure, being extremely overweight can have it’s detriments, but finding a happy place, one where I have energy, feel strong, am not worried about the scale or the fact that I need to fit into my old highschool jeans…now that’s a place I want to be.
And the good news is once you get your thyroid working properly, you’ll notice your weight goes back to where it should, naturally.
How To Boost Your Metabolism (with THREE foods!)
If you didn’t notice the common theme above, I’ll spell it out for you here.
C-O-R-T-I-S-O-L
Stress hormones, man.
They stress you out!
And our stress hormones play a HUGE part in our thyroid’s ability to function properly.
Let me put it plainly:
Stress hormones HALT thyroid function.
- If you don’t eat after 7 pm at night as part of your “healthy lifestyle,” you are increasing your stress hormones.
- If you avoid sugar like the plague, you are increasing your stress hormones.
- If you go hungry because there aren’t healthy choices or because you forgot to eat, you are increasing your stress hormones.
- If you drink/eat caffeinated foods on an empty stomach, you are increasing your stress hormones.
- If you can’t sleep at night, your stress hormones are too high.
If you say you feel amazing by doing all of the above, you’re body is riding the stress hormone high, and trust me, you’ll crash soon. I’ve done it. It’s time to get off of that cortisol wagon.
The THREE Foods that Boost your Thyroid! (and they totally work!)
Food #1 – Orange juice with salt and gelatin
By now you’ve probably realized that in order to boost thyroid function, we need to keep those stress hormones (cortisol) low.
A great way to do this is to sip orange juice with salt and gelatin during a few critical times during the day. In the morning (because you’ve been fasting all night) your cortisol levels are at their highest. So sipping this OJ concoction is a great way to stabilize your blood sugar.
Orange juice (with salt and gelatin) is rich in fructose, potassium, magnesium, and sodium… all of which are necessary for regulating blood sugar and increasing your liver’s conversion of thyroid hormone. It won’t spike your blood sugar, it will help that low blood sugar come up to stable levels, thereby reducing cortisol levels and helping your liver convert thyroid hormones like it’s supposed to.
It’s amazing how great this feels. I wasn’t too excited to try this method, as I typically don’t drink anything but water. But, sure enough, I started to feel AMAZING. Instead of taking 2-3 hours in the morning to perk up, I’m alert and awake within 5 minutes of sipping this OJ concoction.
Other times to drink it would be if you’re in between meals and don’t have access to a snack. Or just before bedtime to lower stress hormones so you SLEEP AMAZINGLY WELL! (Also, I have to mention that our wonderful Intellibed supports our sleep immensely)
(I put about 1/8 tsp. salt & 1 TBS. gelatin – the kind that doesn’t thicken liquid in an 8 oz. cup of OJ)
So, why have health gurus slammed fruit juice for years?
It’s because they group anything sweet in the same category. You’ll see fruit juice in the same group as soda, yet they’re COMPLETELY different things.
Everybody in the health world is so concerned with blood sugar spikes, but what they fail to recognize is that low blood sugar is more dangerous to your thyroid health. And the body can balance itself out amazingly well with just a bit of fructose and salt.
You’ll notice your general sugar cravings are gone as well. Your craving for unnatural and junk food sweets will all but diminish with this little trick.
Overall, I probably drink about a cup of this OJ mix a day. I’ll sip some in the morning, in between meals if I forgot to eat a snack or I feel hungry and dinner’s only 30 minutes away, then again at night before bedtime. I sleep great, I feel refreshed in the morning, and I feel really stable with my mood all day.
Food #2 – Coffee with cream/milk
Mmm… coffee. Coffee gets a bad wrap but it’s not drinking it that’s bad, it’s HOW you drink it.
You see, most people drink coffee on an empty stomach. They wake up in the morning when their blood sugar is low and their cortisol is high. They don’t eat breakfast (or drink their OJ!) and instead consume coffee to “wake themselves up.”
This is a recipe for disaster. Coffee taken by itself will cause your blood sugar to fall even further and your stress hormones to rise even higher.
IF, however, you sip some OJ, eat breakfast and THEN drink coffee, it does some amazing things to your body, particularly your thyroid function. Coffee stimulates the thyroid to secrete more thyroid hormones, and it also gives your cells a boost in the meantime while that thyroid hormone is making it’s way to the cells.
People that drink coffee the correct way have a COMPLETELY different reaction to it. They aren’t addicted to it, they don’t rely on it, they don’t “crash,” and they can drink it at night and still sleep fine.
So, remember, it’s the WAY you drink coffee that matters.
I’m fortunate to be friends with Shaye Elliott of The Elliott Homestead and she has taught me how to choose and appreciate the highest quality of coffee beans and roast them. I grind coffee beans daily and use this stainless steel espresso pot to make the most gorgeously rich coffee. Add a little goat’s milk and a spoonful of raw honey and life is good, ya’ll.
Food #3 – Butter (aw, yeah!)
Hey we’re not gonna argue with this one, now are we? Everybody loves butter!
Butter contains a high amount of butyric acid which is known for boosting your thyroid function by increasing the number of your thyroid hormone cell receptors, allowing your cells to use more thyroid hormone.
This is probably why research has shown that high fat dairy products actually make you leaner. It boosts your thyroid function!
We try our best to stick with organic grass fed butter, the nice dark yellow kind. It tastes amazing and I it’s nice to know we’re eating the best quality possible. We definitely cherish our butter over here!
How long does it take to see benefits?
For me, it was within a week that I started to notice I slept deeper, and that I was more balanced throughout the day, when it came to emotions am energy. I no longer had the 4 pm slump.
As far as my thyroid function and metabolism goes, I noticed that after including these three foods in my diet, I started to get hungrier, which is one of the BEST and BIGGEST signs of a higher functioning thyroid. Having a healthy, robust appetite is what you want. We don’t want to be proud of the ability to go a long time between meals, we want to be hungry. Imagine how a child eats. That’s how a well-functioning metabolism eats.
So, with me, it’s been really fun to see such improvement! I had such success with it that I decided to sign up for Tom Brimeyer’s Hypothyroidism Revolution program. His program is simple and doable for anybody!
So I highly recommend if you notice improvement with the three foods above, to check out his program. Especially if you have more severe thyroid issues or you suspect thyroid problems but your doctor says your levels are “normal.” Spoiler alert: blood tests can be normal and you can still have low thyroid function. Hypothyroid friends unite!
UPDATE: I’ve been following Tom Brimeyer’s Hypothyroidism Revolution program for 3 months now and I can’t tell you how much better I feel! I’ve been sleeping SO much better and noticing a big improvement in my energy. This month I plan on going off my thyroid medication and moving towards a simple supplement he recommends. Not everybody needs to or can go off their thyroid medication, but the best part is that you can actually improve your function naturally WHILE you are on your current medication (that’s my favorite part about his program, he uses integrative practices of modern medicine and natural approaches to REALLY make improvements.) And instead of just popping a pill, now I understand WHY my thyroid function was low and HOW to fix it. If you get a chance, I highly recommend checking his program out. I truly believe we have the tools necessary to restore our thyroid function NATURALLY.
You can learn more about the program I’m doing at HypothyroidismRevolution.com.
Also, if you’re wanting a more affordable program,
check out this great thyroid book here.
Thanks for sharing such important facts with us.
Hello,
Are you sure its gelatin and not collagen in the recipe? I tried gelatin and it made me very painfully bloated as it probably absorbs liquid and enlarges once consumed.
Hi Manisha-
It is a Gelatin, Collagen Hydrolysate from Great Lakes. The link is in the article. But it is just a suggestion and if it doesn’t work for you it is nothing you have to consume.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hey Danelle. Thanks for sharing these amazing foods for thyroid. Initially, I thought that having butter will only increase my thyroid, but after reading your blog I tried butter and it gave me some good results. Looking forward to use other food items suggested by you.
Hi,
I seem to be having a really bad reaction to the gelatin….keeps me up all night. Any suggestions for the oj concoction. Should I drink anyway?
Hi Cindy-
How have you deduced that the gelatin is what is interrupting your sleep? I ask because typically gelatin/collagen enhances sleep quality. This article talks about that and gelatin’s other benefits: https://www.marksdailyapple.com/10-reasons-to-eat-more-collagen/
If you do find that gelatin, or any food, is causing you issues you should not consume it. If you do choose to continue taking it, you can try different brands or kinds of gelatin/collagen and see if that works. Also, do not drink it near bedtime and that should help.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
What supplement are you taking that is replacing your thyroid meds? Ty
Hello-
DaNelle uses https://amzn.to/2RdQY25
And just so you know, DaNelle no longer needs it because her thyroid levels have stabilized!
Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Any alternatives to orange juice? I have been getting severe acid reflux (although my brain feels better).
Hi MM-
If you find that OJ is too acidic for you, you can add a pinch of baking soda to neutralize the acidity. You can also use fresh squeezed ripe oranges as they aren’t as acidic as store bought juices (since many times they use unripe oranges which can be more acidic). If you want to avoid OJ all together you can try cherry juice. Just start with small amounts and see if it works for you. I hope that helps!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
dear mm
my thyroid value T3 182 ,T4 -11.7 TSH <0.01 my weight loss more than 4 kgs
please suggest
Hi Raj-
I think this podcast from Chris Kresser can help you out. https://chriskresser.com/why-your-normal-thyroid-lab-results-may-not-be-normal/
Thanks!
-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi Anni-
DaNelle said she didn’t lose weight on the program, but her thyroid health definitely improved. Also, I do not know if you have any specific thyroid disease or you are just looking to improve overall health, but Chris Kresser has some great resources about thyroid health and diet. https://my.chriskresser.com/wp-content/uploads/membership-files/ebooks/Thyroid%20Disorders.pdf
Elle Russ is also an amazing resource: https://blog.primalblueprint.com/episode-184-mark-sisson-elle-russ/
https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/a20500229/exactly-how-i-changed-my-diet-to-get-my-thyroid-disorder-under-control/
I hope that helps. Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi were you able to keep the weight off & still be on this protocol? I’m reading some of Tims posts and just understanding carbs in general, I’m wondering if my weight loss efforts (low calorie, exercise) will be affected once I introduce more carbs & thyroid boosting stuff. I’ve read his posts on weight loss & thyroid but I’m not sold on how I can lose weight without a deficit.
OMG, thank you! I recently had to stop taking my thyroid medication s because I was having hyperthyroid symptoms of night sweats, insomnia. Was trying to understand what changed. Well, I started making homemade butter with dairy fresh milk, and we use it ALOT. It’s so good!! Been using it for about a month instead of margarine. So there ya go!
Hi Cori-
That’s so great that that’s working for you! I hope things continue to improve! Best wishes and thank you for reading and posting! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Wow. There are so many incorrect things presented in this post as facts. Shaking my head. Scary to think that someone may stumble across this information only to have their hypothyroidism and overall health get worse! This was written a couple of years ago so hopefully the salesperson, I mean author, has read up on the horrible effects of sugar, among other things.
Most of these facts come directly from the “hypothyroidism revolution program” which documents the research. The program has brought hope and results to people like myself who have suffered for years while taking medication regulated by our physicians and still suffer from fatigue and brain fog. Please don’t dismiss unroll you’ve researched further especially if your suffering.
I would like to understand how he thinks oj on an empty stomach will not affect blood sugar..
Cooking cruciferous vegetables helps reduce iodine blocking properties.
Hi, I was wondering if you were still using the Tom Brinmeyer program? I have been following the AIP diet plan for Hashimoto’s and have had some good results but the stress is still so high due to low carbs in the diet. I love milk and cheese, coffee wires me, but orange juice, I would love to drink OJ.
Have you managed to see healing after all this time?
Hi Gina-
DaNelle has finished with his program and feels great! She really loves the program and finds it very doable! She did bring grains back into her diet, but she still avoids gluten. I hope that helps! I wish you the best with your health journey! Thank you – Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
For the orange juice mixture, do you drink the entire 8 oz in the morning before breakfast or do you drink maybe half in the morning and then the rest throughout the day? If you do save some for throughout the day, does it need to be in the fridge or can it set out? Thank you! Looking forward to giving this a try!
Hi Anna-
Typically a few ounces of the juice is sipped at a time. In the article DaNelle suggests a few critical times to drink it. As with most refrigerated items its best to keep them cool, however juices can typically be left out for a 2-3 hours. I hope this helps and the juice works for you. Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I downloaded Tom Brimeyer Triple Thyroid Boosting Protocol and I am confused about the OJ. He says to drink OJ with non-iodized salt and there is no mention of gelatin. Having had a thyroid problem for years, it is my understanding that one symptom/cause of hypothyroidism is iodine deficiency. Do you agree with Tom on this? Can you tell me what the gelatin is for?
Also, what are your thought on butter coffee? Does it fill Triple Thyroid requirement? If the butter should be eaten, what do you typically eat it with?
Hi Shannon-
Very impressive that you are doing your research! And such good questions! I am going to give you some super brief answers, but then will give you a few links so you can follow up and get the full meal deal of info.
Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, but can in some cases increase the autoimmune attack on the thyroid, because it reduces the activity of the enzyme thyroid peroxidase (required for proper thyroid hormone production) but usually only when you are deficient in selenium.
Gelatin/collagen is some good stuff! It has so many health benefits and is definitely worth taking. The brand DaNelle suggests in her article is top notch. I think the main reason DaNelle suggests it here is because it can drop cortisol levels.
As for putting butter (do make sure it is grass-fed) in your coffee, I personally like the taste and use it, ghee, or MCT oil on occasion. However, know it does up your calorie intake and does not offer the fructose like OJ does. You can eat butter on just whatever works for you. I even just eat it by itself once in awhile, but always making sure it is grass-fed (Kerrygold is a great brand).
As with any health condition and diet approach, try a few different things and do so slowly and with intention. See what works for you. We are all very different and each of us needs an individualized diet and lifestyle.
I hope this helps! Best of luck! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Links to follow up on:
https://chriskresser.com/iodine-for-hypothyroidism-like-gasoline-on-a-fire/
https://www.forefronthealth.com/collagen-and-thyroid/
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/10-reasons-to-eat-more-collagen/
https://kresserinstitute.com/underlying-causes-thyroid-disease/
https://blog.bulletproof.com/how-to-make-your-coffee-bulletproof-and-your-morning-too/
I actually tested postitive for elevated tpo ( looking like autoimmune hashimoto) would this be helpful for autoimmune hypothyroid thyroiditis??
Hi Kari-
Yes, this can work for your situation. However, every person is different and what works, or doesn’t, is based on you. Try it out and if you feel better then it’s probably something to stick with. If it doesn’t help, or you feel worse, then it is not for you.
Here are a couple of links to Chris Kresser’s information on thyroid disease. If you don’t know Kresser, he’s basically an alternative medicine & thyroid expert that has been helping others with thyroid issues (among other things) for years.
These articles can help you find additional solutions and things to be aware of.
https://kresserinstitute.com/underlying-causes-thyroid-disease/
https://chriskresser.com/5-steps-to-personalizing-your-autoimmune-paleo-protocol/?_ga=2.116323459.469850774.1517491064-1259864490.1517491064
I hope this helps. Best of luck! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I noticed you didn’t mention the sugar in the original coffee ‘recipe”. Can this part of Tom’s advice be skipped if you are doing the orange juice? I was also wondering if possibly having the carrot salad could be a subsitute for the orange juice in the morning since carrot have natural sugar. Tried this morning finely shredded carrots mixed with 1 T melted coconut oil and 1 T cocoa powder and it was incredibly tasty and satisfying. I have been following Primal Potential by Elizabeth Benton (some fabulous podcasts) and she promotes no carbs other than veggies until late afternoon to help stay in fat burning mode. So…really wondering if there is a sweet spot somewhere for fat burning and thyroid function that maybe we can have a little orange juice in the morning (even 1/4 cup) to protect the thyroid but then just go low carb until evening to help fat burning. So much to consider and it gets so confusing. And also re sugar that is listed in Tom’s recipes…can this be replaced with honey and maple syrup?? I would feel so much better about that then cane sugar! Thanks for letting me bounce all these questions off of you!!!
Hi Esteri-
You have some really great questions here. And yes, food and diet can be crazy confusing and frustrating!
When it comes to diet, it really depends on the person, both in how your body reacts (because you know you better than anyone else!) and if it fits into your lifestyle. As DaNelle mentions in her post “finding a happy place, one where I have energy, feel strong” is really when you know a diet/lifestyle works for you.
In answer to your questions: Skipping the sugar because of the OJ works really well. Plus using OJ, instead of carrots or other things allows you to water it down if you need to if that works for you, plus gives you a little hydration and is easy to digest. However, if carrots are your thing and the OJ isn’t working, making substitutions that work for you and that you will stick with are what matters in the end. Plus DaNelle has a great article about carrots: https://www.weedemandreap.com/carrot-day-keeps-pms-away/
As for the honey or maple syrup if that works for you then go for it. I know DaNelle has it listed in some of her recipes in other articles/post.
So in the end, listen to your body and what it is telling you. If you really listen you will know 100% what works for you! Our bodies are amazing…we just need to pay attention to them! Thanks so much reading and posting! Best of luck! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Which gelatin do you use?
Hi Sue-
Here’s’ the link to the type of gelatin. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005KG7EDU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005KG7EDU&linkCode=as2&tag=weedemreapshop-20
Thanks for reading! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
How does raw cabbage fit in this protocol. Is there a way I can continue to enjoy it?
Hi Esther-
Unfortunately cruciferous vegetables, cabbage being one of them, block’s your body’s ability to absorbed iodine, which can make problems with the thyroid even worse. If you have a problem with your thyroid I would really suggest not eating cabbage at all. If you continue to eat cabbage you need to make sure your iodine intake is sufficient to overcome any problems with absorption. Iodine supplementation or increased dietary iodine may help, but not guaranteed, especially if you have a thyroid problem. I hope this information helps. Thanks for reading and posting! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
You didn’t talk about thyroid nodules. Will these strategies reduce them or even reverse them ?
Hi Chuck-
Not sure on that one. Would be best to talk with your doctor about that, as they sometimes there is need for surgery depending on what the cause is.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I’m not a coffee drinker…is there a substitute for that?
I read on Tom Brimeyer’s website that Yerba Mate tea can be a substitute for coffee.
After listening to the presentation I am very tempted to order, but the price. It’s steep for me and I don’t know if I have a thyroid problem. My tempts are very low in morning and I don’t sleep well. I would hate to have to give up starches such as grains and beans unless it’s absolutely necessary. I consider them ancestral foods. Does he recommend to do so in this program? Any info you can give me about the program that would help me better decide would be so appreciated. After reading so much about metabolic health, I feel everything I thought about nutrition is wrong and I am so confused. I’m looking for direction on a super healthy diet that takes into account metabolic health. Many diets seem to lack this very important piece of the puzzle. They simply choose foods for their nutrient content instead of looking at the bigger picture.
Hi Danella,
I really enjoy your blog and reading this article is what convinced me to sign up to the hypothyroid program. I was diagnosed last year November with an under active thyroid by monitoring my temperature.
I started the program late January just after I turned 26. What’s been your experience? I’m only 40 days in. I’ve had such rapid weight gain 14kgs within a month. My blood sugar struggles to stay stable. Need to eat often. At night my stress hormones struggle to calm down, insomnia has been difficult to deal with. I have a lot of aches and pains. I’ve been told things usually get worse before they get better. Sometimes I struggle to see the light at the end of the healing tunnel.
At this point i just feel overwhelmingly alone in all this. Great to read other people’s experiences.
Thanks!
Oh Lauren, I totally feel for you! My experience with the program (been doing it for about 9 months now) is that it gets better significantly at the 2-3 month mark. I started to notice my symptoms fade away and I felt less stressed, better digestion, etc. Hope you feel better!
which salt is best to use please
Hi Debra-
Just regular ol’ iodized table salt will work. Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Well I am doing the thyroid revolution. It was from you that I looked into it. It has been hard but your webpage has been inspiration for me. The hardest part is seeing all the blogs that I am signed up for trying so hard to get rid of every ounce of sugar from their diets. I see them and have two thoughts, one am I doing the right thing to embrace natural sugars and two if this is the way to go for healing I am sad that they are harming themselves by trying to get rid of all that sugar. Just needed to get my thoughts out to someone who probably understands what I am feeling.
Totally agree! They always recommend that, but I totally agree that we NEED sugar. I think it’s just something that people are so afraid of from years of vilification.
I have been reading articles from Tom Brimeyer after your article on the 3 foods to boost thyroid. I am really considering the program but am wondering if eventually you can cook what you want for recipes keeping to the specific foods for the thyroid or are you restricted to keeping everything in a perfect balance and perfect order to heal the thyroid? The reason I ask is I like to get creative in the kitchen but wonder if that wouldn’t be possible when doing this program. Being you are in the process of healing your thyroid I am hoping you might be able to answer this for me.
Hi Kim,
I noticed that getting rid of my symptoms took a pretty strict 3-6 months, but after that I relaxed a bit on things and still have grains & things occasionally:)
I’m very curious about the full Revolution program. I was introduced to the program years ago when I was first diagnosed with hypo & I’ve been implementing the free 7-day program for the last few days. I’m curious about the full Revolution program, the price is a bit prohibitive so I want to make sure I know as much as possible before committing. Without revealing everything, can you provide any insight to the foods allowed/eliminated? And do you feel one can gain all the same info digging deeply into his blogs & downloading the free stuff vs purchasing the full Revolution program?
Thanks for your time!
Hi Katherine-
That’s fantastic you want to work to improve your health! The Revolution Program is similar to a Paleo or Whole30 diet, except with fruits and dairy. Basically the idea is no grains. So, if you do some digging on the Paleo or Whole30 you can probably get there without spending as much. I hope that helps and your health journey takes you where you need to be! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi Danelle,
I am trying Tom Brimeyer’s diet for thyroid now after having low thyroid as long as I can remember. Now at 29 I am really feelings its effects. I noticed that you are in favor of Dr. Weston Price’s nutritional recommendations, which I have followed for many years as well, and that you eat cod liver oil regularly. Tom Brimeyer seems to suggest many of Dr. Price’s favorite foods, but he does not recommend cod liver oil, unrefined sea salt, or virgin coconut oil–all of which are WAPF “sacred” foods. I don’t know what to do! I have been trying to decide whether to continue CLO because of its many benefits, or quit it at Mr. Brimeyer’s suggestions because of its polyunsaturated fats. Do you have any thoughts on this? Thank you!
Hi Ashley,
Awesome! I’m in month 3 of doing Tom’s diet and I really am doing well. I actually had to stop cod liver oil a while back because my Vitamin D levels were too high. I guess living in Arizona will do that to ya’:) As far as salt or virgin coconut oil, I think he also recommends those, or at least doesn’t think they’re harmful. Overall, getting my PUFA oil levels down has greatly increased my thyroid function & energy level!
So, I was wondering how getting off your thyroid medication has turned out and what medication you were taking.
Hi Patty,
I was on Nature Throid and I’ve been doing well! I am on a thyroid supplement instead. Been feeling great!
Hey what is the supplement that he recommends ? I’d like to know but can’t afford his whole program. Trying to take control of my health and eventually get off the meds as I feel better. Thanks !
He has a list of supplements, you can read more at his website here: http://www.forefronthealth.com
Hey there Danelle!
I noticed that you said in your ebook as well you suffered vertigo. Has anyone explained to you why? Is it something to also do with food? I have been getting it on and off for two years now and don’t like having to be on tablets for it!
Thanks
Such a great question, Ashlee! I really think it was a result of fatigue because what always made it better was to sleep. Before I was eating healthy or doing anything good for my thyroid, I remember that I’d have to take a nap before going to the store or doing any event, to be sure my brain was rested so I wouldn’t get dizzy, brain fog, or vertigo. It’s interesting that now I don’t hardly deal with it at all, though from years of being sensitive, I am retraining my range of motion for my vestibular system by doing exercises that make my body learn to get stronger with lots of head movement:)
Hi, I’m a little surprised to find that you seem to not agree that cancer eats sugar, and also relieved! Can you point to articles about this?
Here’s an article: https://www.thankyourbody.com/is-sugar-bad/ and there’s another here: https://www.forefronthealth.com/hypothyroidism-and-diabetes/
Hi
. . . For a year I had butter with my breakfast for almost an year and now my cholesterol is above 300. Don’t u think butter can have negative effects on cholesterol levels?
Hi Darry,
I think that ANY food can be overdone, butter/fat included. BUT, high cholesterol can indicate lots of things going on the body. Check out this article: https://www.forefronthealth.com/hypothyroidism-and-cholesterol/
Hi DaNelle!
I’m interested in following his program but wary of cutting out so many foods. Did you continue to eat grains during it? If so do you just make sure you properly prepare them? Thanks!
Hi Sarah,
I actually love what he says about grains, that they have a higher amount of PUFA’s, so when you’re thyroid’s compromised, it’s best to avoid. He talks about soaking & preparing properly so I am still eating my own soaked grains, I’m just eating a way lower amount, so probably a few times a week instead of once a day or a few times a day like in the past:)
Would I be able to substitute grapefruit juice for the OJ?
Good question! He’s pretty adamant in his program that OJ is the one that’s most effective:)
Hi DaNelle, I love your site. Were you able to get off of hypothyroid medication by using the tricks in the book? Just curious as to how successful you’ve been on the lifestyle changes. I take levothyroxine for hypothyroidism and have recently started reading about how these medications aren’t good for your body so I found this blog post fascinating. Thanks for any insight you may have!
Hi Katie! I am going off my thyroid med next week, and moving towards his thyroid supplement instead. He doesn’t always recommend this unless you feel symptoms of hyperthyroid meaning your thyroid function is improving:)
ok interesting! Thanks for taking time to respond. I am pregnant so I’m not going to change anything now, but I certainly want to try many of ideas things once I deliver. I may need to order his book. thanks again!
Do you use a specific brand of oj or do you squeeze your own?
I squeeze my own:)
can it be whole oranges sprinkled with salt???
Hi Kari-
Yes, you could use an orange, however this makes it difficult to add the gelatin, which is an important component of the mix. Plus OJ is absorbed by the body faster and simply easier to consume. But if you can make it work, go for it. Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Can you use another juice or does it have to be OJ? I was wondering about concord grape juice.
Hi Gaye, it’s my understanding it does have to be orange juice:)
Very interesting article and one that is easy to try by changing up a few things. I am going to try it starting tomorrow and see how it works. Thanks for sharing!
I have really red palms and fingers and have for over five months, they are red when I am cold and even redder when I am hot. They almost look like there is too much blood in my hands. Could this be a thyroid problem?
Hi Sally,
I’m not positive on that. It could be a high blood pressure problem:)
Danelle,
I’m curious how the Whole30 worked for you. I’m just reading it on a friend’s advice, but am more apt to go with this article about not going sugar free. Also love your soaked flour bread recipe and would like to know if you eliminated grains and how it affected you.
Thanks for a great blog.
Hey Julie!
I am not a fan of the Whole30, because it really was incredibly restrictive. I lost weight too fast (like 8 lbs. in a week), then gained more than that back. That’s a pretty clear sign that I wasn’t eating enough calories. It could have been that I wasn’t doing it correctly, but overall I’m not a huge fan mostly because of the restrictive nature of real sugars.
What brand of gelatin do you use? Do you have a pic? I’ve never used gelatin but I want to try this (chronic drinker of coffee on an empty stomach).
I use great lakes gelatin! You can get it here: https://www.weedemandreap.com/grass-fed-gelatin-hydrolyzed
I don’t have my thyroid anymore, but still suffer from hypothyroid symptoms, even on my medication. These are actually suggestions I can put into practice! So excited to try the OJ mix, and change up my coffee routine.
Hi! How much salt and gelatin do you add to one glass of orange juice? Thanks!
I put a few tsp. of gelatin and salt to my taste:)
I just read another article that suggested 1/4 tsp salt and 1 Tbsp gelatin to 8 oz of OJ.