Carnivore diet and hypothyroidism ➤ Benefits and risks

The Thyroid

You see, the thyroid is like that silent character in a movie that you suddenly realize pulls all the strings. It’s right at the front of your neck, below your Adam’s apple (yes, where you sometimes get a little knot when you speak in public). It has a curious shape, like a butterfly… but no wings. Just its shape. Now, if we’re talking about hypothyroidism, things can get complicated, especially if you decide to mix it with the carnivore diet. The thyroid is like a very demanding diva with nutrients (or lack of them), and a diet loaded with meat can put it in a bad mood, affecting the production of hormones.

Although it’s not very big – don’t expect to find a gland the size of an avocado – it plays a key role. It belongs to the glamorous endocrine system, which is basically the club of glands that produce hormones. And what do those hormones do? Well, they’re like the bosses of metabolism: they tell the body how much energy to use, how to grow, how to maintain temperature…. If your body were a company, the thyroid would be the operations manager.

Now, if that manager gets sluggish or speeds up too much, everything gets out of whack. You can feel tired, rushed, cold, hot, like in a hormonal soap opera. That’s why, even if it’s small and shy, you have to pay attention to it. Because when the thyroid speaks (though not literally), the body listens. Simply put, a blood test can rule out thyroid hormone production.

Carnivore diet and hypothyroidism

The diet derived from meat or animal products tries to completely eliminate carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. Some people claim that the diet facilitates weight loss and mood improvement, this diet also gave rise to some alarms, especially among cases of hypothyroidism (one of the forms of thyroid problem), among other things. Let’s review how this diet can affect thyroid function, on the one hand, positive and on the other negative.

Thyroid hormone and its function in your body.

Thyroid hormones, especially T4 and T3, are required to control your metabolism, that is, the rate at which your body converts food into energy, and are most important at the time of day when you need to rest, especially after a dietary fat. T4, the inactive form, is converted into T3, which is the hormone of real effect, the one involved in your cellular transformation and metabolism.

The balance of these secretions is in the control of a strange feedback complex involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and thyroid. When T3 levels remain low, your metabolism decreases and this can cause symptoms such as fatigue and weight gain, of which patients with hypothyroidism exhibit.

The Carnivorous Diet and its Influence on the Thyroid

Following a meat-based diet can have bifronted results for the thyroid system. Since it is a diet that is low in carbohydrates, some people have thyroid hormone, especially T3. This occurs because the body may consider the absence of carbohydrates as a hunger signal and decrease the metabolic energy response.

There are, however, studies, which propose that nutritional ketosis (diets below 20 g of carbohydrates) improves thyroid hormone sensitivity efficiently with lower T3 levels. This could be good for certain people; it helps the body to do so in a way that requires less hormone for the maintenance of a good metabolism.

What are the benefits of the carnivore diet plan for hypothyroidism?

1. Protein and conversion of T4 to T3: Meat, especially red meat, is not doing bad, they are rich in nutrients such as iron, zinc and selenium, necessary for the production of thyroid hormones. The large amount of protein, in itself, can help your body convert T4 to T3 more successfully.
2.  Muscle mass gain: People who gain muscle mass often have a slower metabolism and can easily put on weight. It is often beneficial for health to consume the right levels of protein, which can help maintain or even increase muscle mass, and this, in turn, can speed up the metabolism.
3. Better weight control: The dietary protein in the carnivore diet increases satiety and satiety, should help hunger control and stable weight loss, it is very prominent for those who suffer from hypothyroidism and struggle to maintain their own weight.

What are the risks of a carnivorous diet on the thyroid.

While there may be benefits, there are risk

1. Low in nutrients: After completely abandoning the consumption of fruits, vegetables and other plant-based foods, the requirements of fibre, vitamins, etc., are being lost negatively timed on the level of intestinal tract wellness and total wellness, of the organism.
2. Advantages or results that fats produce: Diets with a high fat content, especially marinated meats, can trigger a reaction of thyroid hormones. Processed meats can also be a problem, as these usually contain additives of one kind or another that may cause overwork of the thyroid gland.
3. Stomach problems: Too little fibre in the diet can cause stomach problems such as constipation and bloating, which is much worse for people with hypothyroidism, who may already have slow digestion.
4. Long-term health risks: Eating too much red and salty meat, coupled with an increased likelihood of heart conditions and some cancers, is something you should keep in mind when following a restrictive diet such as a carnivore diet.

Should you follow the meat diet if you have hypothyroidism?

If you are planning to follow the carnivore diet because of your hypothyroidism, it is vital that you check how you are feeling in general and consult with your doctor. Some people with hypothyroidism report an onset of symptoms with this diet, but not everyone responds the same way.

In summary, if you do not have severe hypothyroid symptoms, and you feel fine with the eating style, it may not be necessary to hold your hand on fire for low T3 blood values. But if you do experience symptoms of hypothyroidism or if you notice that your health is deteriorating, seek follow-up with a doctor and consider a slightly more balanced diet that includes all the food groups.

If you have many symptoms of thyroid problems, it would be interesting to look for the root cause and consult with your doctor.

Remember, the most important thing is to use a health professional to achieve the most appropriate diet and treatment for your needs. The thyroid is only a small part of a complex system, and for your diet it is important to consider all elements of your health.