coconut and thyroid

[Attached Mama]

I know I have seen things on here before about coconut oil (or milk or something) and it being good for low thyroid levels. Can anyone point me in the right direction or share their stories? Thanks!

[quietserena]

It's mentioned both on the Coconut Diet site and in EFLF.

I never had really pronounced symptoms so I can't quite testify that it helped but I will tell you that my body temp is more normal when I eat CO and it usually runs cold.

[Purple Sage]

Does anyone have any links to scientific articles that say that coconuts or coconut oil have beneficial effects on thyroid function? I can't find any, but since there is so much anecdotal support for coconut oil being good for the thyroid, I thought maybe there'd be some scientific evidence for it. My TSH level was "borderline" the last time I had it checked (in 2006), so any info would be much appreciated.

[Attached Mama]

Thank you!!

My symptoms are only borderline as well. Borderline TSH when tested last summer. I've started tracking my basal body temp and that's low and I show signs of low progesterone which is all tied in to low thyroid. The book Garden of Fertility is giving me so many answers to questions I've had since last summer. Love that book!!!

Anyway, thanks for the coconut links.

[bigknitwit]

Keep in mind that some labs indicate a "normal" thyroid TSH range all the way to 5.5, even though the new revised uppper limit is 3.5 (maybe even lower). You could be more than just "borderline" low, so check your actual numbers. Low thyroid levels effect so many things, I would personally consider supplemental hormone replacement, all the while trying to improve thyroid function with nutritional therapy/natural means.

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by lemongrass

Does anyone have any links to scientific articles that say that coconuts or coconut oil have beneficial effects on thyroid function? I can't find any, but since there is so much anecdotal support for coconut oil being good for the thyroid, I thought maybe there'd be some scientific evidence for it.

Just a thought, who would pay for research like that when thyroid meds are so lucrative?

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by uccomama

Just a thought, who would pay for research like that when thyroid meds are so lucrative?

Love you!

If you google hypothyroid + coconut oil you should get some info. As Uccomama pointed out though, there isn't a TON of science, but lots of anecdotal evidence. Plus you can try it yourself. It's thermogenic and raises your basal body temperature.

[quietserena]

Oh one other thing regarding thyroid. I've had this on my mind as well.

Low thyroid can be a symptom of a food intolerance, often gluten. I've been trying to wrap my mind about this for a few months, and I don't have it any better than this: The reaction to an allergen in the gut somehow starts to affect everything from thyroid to fertility. I've had psoriasis my whole life, and since going GF and for the first time in my life, my skin is clearing by itself. I can't tell you how huge that was for me. And I've been warmer, while not really getting much CO in.

I wish more people would turn to food to heal instead of drugs.

[Chakra]

I have a normal thyriod with antibodies. I have no symptoms but hair loss off and on. Not sure it has something to do with that.

Here is a yahoo group that is for hypo thyroid and is a crunchy natural group.

Good info

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hypothyroidism/

[Purple Sage]

I tried Google and Pubmed, nothing came up. That's why I thought I'd ask here. Maybe someone has a copy of EFLF and can see if there's references in the back? That's what I was hoping.

But yeah, I could see how it wouldn't be a lucrative thing to do a study on. On the other hand, they can find a way to make money off just about anything, and I'm sure coconut would be no exception.

My TSH level was 2.9 which my doctor considered borderline due to the new guidelines. I don't have health insurance now, so I haven't had it checked recently. I treated myself with some thyroid tablets (can't remember the brand) a while ago and felt better....symptoms are pretty much gone now. I was just curious about the coconut - how exactly it would work, etc.

Thanks for the link to the yahoo group...off to check that out.

OP, sorry to hijack!

[Panserbjorne]

I'll look again...I have found plenty on google before for others.

[bigknitwit]

My naturopath said something similar to QuietSerena: That often chronic degenerative diseases are the result of long term food intolerances/allergies. My sensitive foods are/were eggs and dairy. I avoided them for almost a year, but didn't see any change in my thyroid dose during that time. Perhaps I needed longer, I'm not sure. My thyroid gland is virtually destroyed by 8 years of active anti-bodies, so hormone supplementing isn't an option for me, it's a necessity at this point. We also eat tons of coconut oil around here and didn't notice a difference in myself or either of my boys (my middle child has active antibodies and takes a supplement as well). I will say that the one thing that I do believe makes a difference (and can be noticed with TSH levels) is a thyroid gland supplement (from the naturopath). It contains tyrosine, iodine, zinc, and dessicated thyroid gland (without the hormones).

[AllieFaye]

Just an anecdotal story here: dh has normal thyroid after three years on thyroid meds. When he switched to a new job, he found that he no longer had his regular time between meals to take it regularly. I stopped using canola oil, and switched to coconut, but not for him specifically. When it was time for his check up, I was expecting the worst. The result? Totally normal thryoid levels. The doctor even praised him for finally learning to take his meds every day. Dh said that he had actually completely stopped, but didn't mention the diet change. The doc is baffled, and says he's never heard of levels going back to normal after starting medication. It works for us.

[Attached Mama]

Thanks for sharing stories...

I am nowhere near considering hormones! If anything, I'm borderline. My basal temp seems low and I'd like to raise it to get more progesterone in my body - they are all tied in together (see Garden of Fertility).

My holistic MD had me take dessicated adrenal when my thyroid was last tested and most all of my symptoms cleared immediately. Thyroid and adrenal health are very much linked as well.

I'd continue with an adrenal or thyroid glandular supplement if the CO didn't help and only as a very last ever resort take the hormone.

As for food allergy/gluten intolerance. I highly doubt that's it. I don't have any other related symptoms. It's more likely somehow genetic as both my grandmother and mom have hypothyroidism. But then what is genetic??? It could be something related to a build up of bad diet... My mom says she's allergic to iodine, so that contributes to hers for sure.

I have been craving coconut, so hopefully this will help.

[Attached Mama]

So if coconut has helped you, how did you take it?? And how much??

I don't like the idea of 3 plain spoonfulls of CO daily. Did you put it in a smoothie? Just cook with it? (wouldn't think you'd get enough that way). Did you use CO or also coconut milk? Or other forms? Thanks

[Purple Sage]

Originally Posted by firefaery

I'll look again...I have found plenty on google before for others.

Any luck? I still can't find any studies on it at all. You'd think that the food industry would love to have some proof that coconut oil supports thyroid function. So many products would be made with coconut oil rather than other oils (hydrogenated oils, especially) and could claim on the label "Supports thyroid function which is associated with maintaining a healthy weight." It would be a huge boon for the industry.

[Mere]

Originally Posted by AllieFaye

Just an anecdotal story here: dh has normal thyroid after three years on thyroid meds. When he switched to a new job, he found that he no longer had his regular time between meals to take it regularly. I stopped using canola oil, and switched to coconut, but not for him specifically. When it was time for his check up, I was expecting the worst. The result? Totally normal thryoid levels. The doctor even praised him for finally learning to take his meds every day. Dh said that he had actually completely stopped, but didn't mention the diet change. The doc is baffled, and says he's never heard of levels going back to normal after starting medication. It works for us.

Wow, this sounds my dh's story too. He was borderline, took the meds for 3 years, then stopped because it just didn't feel right to him. He's probably still borderline, but if I can push him into the range of normal by using coconut oil that would be worth a try. Do you cook everything in it? How much CO do you use?

[paquerette]

Dessicated thyroid gland supplements DO contain the hormones. The allopathic meds just contain (artificial) T4 or T3, and I think there's a combo pill. Dessicated thyroid, such as Armour, contains both plus a little bit of other naturally-occurring hormones. It's generally easier for the body to use and provides fuller relief. But it is a hormonal supplement.

[tanyalynn]

I got a recipe I like from someone else on the board: mix coconut oil, flaked coconut, dried fruit of your choosing (I like cranberries and pieces of dried apricot), chopped nuts, and an optional sweetener (I like OJ concentrate) and an optional flavoring like vanilla extract. Play with the amounts to get a flavor/texture you like (mine had to be more liquid than I expected) and spread it out in the bottom of a pan and refrigerate (unless your kitchen is quite cool). I cut it into squares and keep it around as a snack, it helps between meals when I _need_ something.

[Sparkle*Mama]

Originally Posted by quietserena

Oh one other thing regarding thyroid. I've had this on my mind as well.

Low thyroid can be a symptom of a food intolerance, often gluten. I've been trying to wrap my mind about this for a few months, and I don't have it any better than this: The reaction to an allergen in the gut somehow starts to affect everything from thyroid to fertility. I've had psoriasis my whole life, and since going GF and for the first time in my life, my skin is clearing by itself. I can't tell you how huge that was for me. And I've been warmer, while not really getting much CO in.

I wish more people would turn to food to heal instead of drugs.

ITA with this!!!

In our house we have seen remarkable improvement between my 3.5 yr old and myself since going GF/DF/SF. Its amazing!

quietserena-Have you read The Gut & Psychology Syndrome by Dr Nastasha Campbell-McBride? If not, you wont be disappointed. Great book!


Also, there is a great book called The Coconut Oil Miracle by Bruce Fife, CN, ND He really makes it easy to understand Coco and how it relates to so many things. Great book!