Looking for an all-natural way to get rid of fatigue and shed stubborn pounds? Then it is time to turn on your thyroid hormones! Turns out, “everything from the poor diet to stress and pollution can keep thyroid hormones within an inactive state,” explains Josh Axe, DNM, DC. And without lots of active thyroid hormones, metabolism tanks and the body struggles to show calories and body fat into energy.
Luckily, Dr. Axe has a simple hack to reverse the problem: A low-carb diet packed with special hormone-revving fiber. Whether your prescription thyroid meds aren't helping enough or else you just want to melt fat faster, “you should start to see and feeling results quickly,” says the functional medicine expert, co-founder of Ancient Nutrition and bestselling author of Ancient Remedies and The Keto Diet. Even thyroid patients using his basic strategy report shedding up to 10 pounds a week!
How does a thyroid-specific keto diet work?
Dr. Axe says a keto diet built around natural foods is a superb starting point for thyroid health. Why? You narrow carbs until the body can't make enough blood sugar levels to use as fuel, “so your system begins turning excess fat into ketones. They become your new fuel,” the doc explains. Fat burns about 900 percent faster.
The thyroid benefit: As blood sugar levels comes down, so amounts of insulin. Excess insulin actually drives down amounts of thyroid hormone, per South American research, while lowering insulin keeps levels high. For optimum benefits, just be sure to steer clear of the number one thyroid-stalling mistake keto dieters make.
Why does keto stall?
When thyroid hormones are first released, they're like birthday presents that arrive uncharged and without batteries. They must be powered as much as work. “About 80 % of thyroid-hormone activation happens in the liver, and the other 20 percent happens in the gut,” Dr. Axe explains.
The problem: Keto dieters (and also the everyone else!) tend to skimp on fiber-rich fare, depriving the liver and gut of compounds they need to activate thyroid hormones efficiently. The result? Inactive hormones hold off doing nothing. “This can cause the signs of low thyroid function, such as easy weight gain, constant tiredness, thinning hair, depression, and brain fog, even when tests say your thyroid levels are normal.” Turns out, standard tests only measure inactive hormone. Luckily, there's an easy solution, and it's one that is been around since cave people walked the Earth.
What kinds of fiber should you eat?
While using a keto plan, Dr. Axe urges you to include 5 to 7 daily servings of high-fiber foods – especially options rich in inulin. He explains that inulin is a kind of “prebiotic” fiber that feeds bacteria in our digestive system crucial to gut and liver function. Studies have shown inulin can almost instantly make our livers and guts better at activating thyroid hormones. In a number of studies, inulin's big metabolic jumpstart caused folks to shed significant weight without trying!
“All low-sugar fruit and non-starchy veggies contain inulin or similar prebiotic fiber and are good choices,” notes Dr. Axe. The very best options: Asparagus, cauliflower, onions, and greens. Probiotics and probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and sauerkraut are another proven way to bolster good bacteria and thus boost thyroid hormone activation.
Bonus: Beneficial bacteria also help to improve cholesterol, blood pressure, inflammation plus much more. Layering those advantages over the slimming power a keto diet and improved thyroid function “means you are able to truly transform your body as well as your health!”
What results are you able to expect?
With nine kids and five grandchildren, Kendra Bates can be used to being tired – but as her thyroid stalled, “the fatigue was so bad, I'd sneak to my car for naps,” recalls the Georgia nursing director. Despite thyroid meds, she was exhausted, and her weight stuck at 220 pounds.
Then she found Facebook's Grandma Keto Kitchen group and was intrigued by their whole-foods approach. Soon, she began filling on low-carb options rich in prebiotic fiber like green smoothies and cauliflower-crust pizza. “I never felt deprived, my energy came back and my thyroid level is normal again,” says Kendra, down 64 pounds. “I show people my 'before' picture and say: 'You need this!'”
What does a fiber-filled, thyroid-healing keto diet look like?
To rev thyroid hormones Dr. Axe's way, have a plate of food each and every meal with one-third protein, one-third fat, and one-third veggies. Favor options rich in inulin – especially asparagus, onions, greens, and cauliflower. Also good prebiotic sources: Artichoke, berries, garlic, green banana, jicama and herbs.
Have slow-thyroid symptoms in the above list? Speak to your doctor; you may need meds to safeguard your health. Always obtain a doctor's okay to test a brand new plan.
BREAKFAST: Blend single serving of frozen berries, single serving of nut milk, one cup of spinach, and optional one teaspoon of inulin powder.
LUNCH: Warm cooked chicken white meat with marinated artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, and herbs.
SNACK: Enjoy sliced jicama and celery sticks with lime juice, chili powder, and salt to taste.
