tofu hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
Posted by Anonymous on Oct 24, 2007 · Member since Dec 1969 · 11789 posts
How many of you who have had hyperthyroidism or hyperthyroidism eat tofu
once a week
or twice a week
I just want to see if it's true about tofu being the cause of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
It is my understanding that soy is not the cause of hypo- or hyperthyroidism, but it sometimes irritates the metabolism of people who already have a problem with their thyroid. My mom has thyroid issues & uses her sensitivity to tofu as an excuse to not go vegetarian... ::) So I've done a little research. It turns out she does have a point, but it doesn't seem as extreme as some might think.
From this website--http://www.womentowomen.com/hypothyroidism/frequentlyaskedquestions.asp:
What about soy and thyroid health?
I sometimes advise my patients to limit soy products if they’re experiencing thyroid symptoms or conditions. There has been a lot of controversy about soy and the thyroid due to soy’s estrogen-like effects. We know that too much estrogen, or estrogen dominance, can have an upsetting effect on the thyroid. (This is one reason progesterone may be a good, subtle preventative of thyroid problems — because it helps balance estrogen levels.) If you are eating soy for hormonal balance and it is not affecting your thyroid (or other areas of your health), I wouldn’t worry that it will cause a thyroid condition — but don’t start eating it in quantity without the guidance of your practitioner.
Eating tofu (any soy product) will not cause you to be hypo or hyper. For a person with a pre-existing thyroid problem, eating too much soy can interfere with absorption of thyroid meds.
Eating tofu (any soy product) will not cause you to be hypo or hyper. For a person with a pre-existing thyroid problem, eating too much soy can interfere with absorption of thyroid meds.
Yes, this is exactly what my mom has been told. :)
I love VegWeb... how cool is it that a question as specific and unusual as this one gets immediate, well-educated answers?
Very interesting stuff-- thank you, guys!
i have had hypo since i was about 15...
and short of not taking my meds w/ in eating/ consuming soy within 2 hours, i dont do anything special.
i usually have soy everyday, in something.
there is alot of conflicting advice out there, but i think its generally recommended by physicians to avoid consuming soy and meds together. same w/ calcium, etc.... so its no biggie, imo.
I didn't know this. I take my thyroid medicine when I get up before I eat breakfast. I've been a vegetarian much of my life and have eaten tons of tofu but I don't think it CAUSED my hypothyroidism. I go to the endocrinologist tomorrow - I'm going to ask him about it.
laurie...
i think they actually recommend that you dont eat anything w/in 2 hours of taking the meds, soy or not.
but, usually docs dont even mention this type of interaction/ absorption considerations.
however, if what youve been doing is working ok, some schools of thought, are just to keep doing as you were.
if you to suddenly stop your normal routine, you may notice your levels needing to change, b/c the absorption rate could change.
so you may be fine, if what you take, how you take it, is working.
i have had hypo since i was about 15...
and short of not taking my meds w/ in eating/ consuming soy within 2 hours, i dont do anything special.
i usually have soy everyday, in something.
there is alot of conflicting advice out there, but i think its generally recommended by physicians to avoid consuming soy and meds together. same w/ calcium, etc.... so its no biggie, imo.
I've just been wondering here about this...they upped my meds Monday...The box says half an hr before food, since I take it first thing. We've been going round and round about this. Thanks for the info!
i have had hypo since i was about 15...
and short of not taking my meds w/ in eating/ consuming soy within 2 hours, i dont do anything special.
i usually have soy everyday, in something.
there is alot of conflicting advice out there, but i think its generally recommended by physicians to avoid consuming soy and meds together. same w/ calcium, etc.... so its no biggie, imo.
I did not know this. I take my thyroid med and my cortef together in the morning. The cortef says to take with food or milk, but the levrothroid does not specify anything. I take them both with food but will now make sure to avoid soy products with it. Thank so much for giving me more info than my endocrinologist.
I've also heard that it's one the causes of it. I thought I read it somewhere. I also looked it up www.about.com says the same thing.
If you want to see the article go www.about.com put in "does eating tofu cause hypo and hyperthyroidism?"
Go to the one where it says about the endocrine resource center
Now go to the one where it says Thyroid disease- What causes thyroid disease?
If eating soy products causes thyroid disese and it's also hereditary but the parent could've never touched soy products that means it's two different causes. And more likely soy products isn't the culprit here in my opinion. (I hope the meat industry isn't responsible for it >:().
I'd still like to take the poll though. How many of you has had hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and you eat tofu
once a week
or twice a week
no prob yabbit and not quite. its those sorts of things that i wish that the med community would be more aware of, but i guess there are alot of possible interactions w/ so many things that it would be a specialty in and of itself!! :)
startauras...
you'll find info all over the net about the benefits or detriments of soy .... popular opinion and "scientific" data goes back and forth. i dont think any one really has proven either way whether it causes or contributes to thyroid probs, cancer , menopause, etc....
you also have to consider the sources that any info is coming from.
I've also heard that it's one the causes of it. I thought I read it somewhere. I also looked it up www.about.com says the same thing.
If you want to see the article go www.about.com put in "does eating tofu cause hypo and hyperthyroidism?"
Go to the one where it says about the endocrine resource center
Now go to the one where it says Thyroid disease- What causes thyroid disease?
If eating soy products causes thyroid disese and it's also hereditary but the parent could've never touched soy products that means it's two different causes. And more likely soy products isn't the culprit here in my opinion. (I hope the meat industry isn't responsible for it >:().
I'd still like to take the poll though. How many of you has had hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and you eat tofu
once a week
or twice a week
I've had hypothyroidism for 22 years as a result of complications I had during my pregnancy. I eat soy 2-3 times a week and my doctor has not seen any difference in my condition.
I've also heard that it's one the causes of it. I thought I read it somewhere. I also looked it up www.about.com says the same thing.
If you want to see the article go www.about.com put in "does eating tofu cause hypo and hyperthyroidism?"
Go to the one where it says about the endocrine resource center
Now go to the one where it says Thyroid disease- What causes thyroid disease?
If eating soy products causes thyroid disese and it's also hereditary but the parent could've never touched soy products that means it's two different causes. And more likely soy products isn't the culprit here in my opinion. (I hope the meat industry isn't responsible for it >:().
I'd still like to take the poll though. How many of you has had hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and you eat tofu
once a week
or twice a week
I've had hypothyroidism for 22 years as a result of complications I had during my pregnancy. I eat soy 2-3 times a week and my doctor has not seen any difference in my condition.
And it's not hereditary?
I've also heard that it's one the causes of it. I thought I read it somewhere. I also looked it up www.about.com says the same thing.
If you want to see the article go www.about.com put in "does eating tofu cause hypo and hyperthyroidism?"
Go to the one where it says about the endocrine resource center
Now go to the one where it says Thyroid disease- What causes thyroid disease?
If eating soy products causes thyroid disese and it's also hereditary but the parent could've never touched soy products that means it's two different causes. And more likely soy products isn't the culprit here in my opinion. (I hope the meat industry isn't responsible for it >:().
I'd still like to take the poll though. How many of you has had hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and you eat tofu
once a week
or twice a week
I've had hypothyroidism for 22 years as a result of complications I had during my pregnancy. I eat soy 2-3 times a week and my doctor has not seen any difference in my condition.
And it's not hereditary?
No, no one else in my family has ever had it. I have a condition known as Sheehan's Syndrome. I still have my thyroid and my pituitary but neither of them work.
I've also heard that it's one the causes of it. I thought I read it somewhere. I also looked it up www.about.com says the same thing.
If you want to see the article go www.about.com put in "does eating tofu cause hypo and hyperthyroidism?"
Go to the one where it says about the endocrine resource center
Now go to the one where it says Thyroid disease- What causes thyroid disease?
If eating soy products causes thyroid disese and it's also hereditary but the parent could've never touched soy products that means it's two different causes. And more likely soy products isn't the culprit here in my opinion. (I hope the meat industry isn't responsible for it >:().
I'd still like to take the poll though. How many of you has had hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and you eat tofu
once a week
or twice a week
I've had hypothyroidism for 22 years as a result of complications I had during my pregnancy. I eat soy 2-3 times a week and my doctor has not seen any difference in my condition.
And it's not hereditary?
No, no one else in my family has ever had it. I have a condition known as Sheehan's Syndrome. I still have my thyroid and my pituitary but neither of them work.
I don't know what to think. I was reading up on Sheehan's Syndrome. Without meaning to sound like I'm playing doctor but I think the hypothyroidism is due from the complications from what I read off the top of my head.
I've also heard that it's one the causes of it. I thought I read it somewhere. I also looked it up www.about.com says the same thing.
If you want to see the article go www.about.com put in "does eating tofu cause hypo and hyperthyroidism?"
Go to the one where it says about the endocrine resource center
Now go to the one where it says Thyroid disease- What causes thyroid disease?
If eating soy products causes thyroid disese and it's also hereditary but the parent could've never touched soy products that means it's two different causes. And more likely soy products isn't the culprit here in my opinion. (I hope the meat industry isn't responsible for it >:().
I'd still like to take the poll though. How many of you has had hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and you eat tofu
once a week
or twice a week
I've had hypothyroidism for 22 years as a result of complications I had during my pregnancy. I eat soy 2-3 times a week and my doctor has not seen any difference in my condition.
And it's not hereditary?
No, no one else in my family has ever had it. I have a condition known as Sheehan's Syndrome. I still have my thyroid and my pituitary but neither of them work.
I don't know what to think. I was reading up on Sheehan's Syndrome. Without meaning to sound like I'm playing doctor but I think the hypothyroidism is due from the complications from what I read off the top of my head.
oh yes, definitely. But my condition is not affected by eating soy. It is just something I have to live with and make sure I take my meds daily.