low-iodine diet for thyroid condition

Carol21950 · 11-10-2009, 09:04 AM

DD #1 had her cancerous thyroid gland removed recently. Now she is facing having a bout of radioactive iodine (RAI) to kill any remaining cells. But she has to go on a low-iodine diet for 2 weeks before starting the RAI treatment.

I looked up the low-iodine diet. No sea salt or iodized salt, no dairy, no soy, no egg yolks, no rhubarb, no Red Dye #3, no potato skins, nothing processed, and most legumes are out of the question. She can have most fresh fruits and veggies, about 5 oz of meat a day, grains, and nuts that aren't salted. Peanut butter (or almond or cashew) is OK if the salt isn't iodized.

I've volunteered to bake some "safe" breads and make some casseroles. Right now, though, her freezer is stuffed with a big package she got from Omaha Steaks as a get-well gift from her office. They are trying to eat up the salty things (stuffed potatoes, hot dogs, etc.) before she has to start the diet.

Just imagine if you were trying to LC and had to do this low-iodine diet, too! I don't think it could be done!

Leo41 · 11-10-2009, 10:39 AM

Not true--I could do that easily because I'm essentially eating primal now (although I use salt, I could readily cut it out). I eat meat, fish, veggies and egg whites. I don't use egg yolks at all because I try to follow an anti-inflammatory diet to reduce the inflammation from my arthritis. (You don't mention fish, but I could have only meat if necessary.)

My regular diet is more restrictive (by choice) than the low iodine one, so I would have no problem eating low carb without iodine if I had to.

clarke · 11-10-2009, 07:53 PM

Is your DD going hypo for the RAI - meaning not on any meds or getting thyrogen shots? If going hypo naturally, she probably will feel pretty crappy by the time those two weeks are up that she may not feel much like eating much anyway. My TSH was up to 89 about 5 days prior to having RAI, I had no appetite and was fairly nauseous. Even being so hypo, I managed to lose a few pounds.

Good luck to her. Hopefully it will all be behind her soon, she can be medicated properly and move on with her life.

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11-10-2009, 09:04 AM	#1
Carol21950 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,656 Gallery: Carol21950 WOE: Atkins Start Date: Re-start Oct 18, 2009	low-iodine diet for thyroid condition DD #1 had her cancerous thyroid gland removed recently. Now she is facing having a bout of radioactive iodine (RAI) to kill any remaining cells. But she has to go on a low-iodine diet for 2 weeks before starting the RAI treatment. I looked up the low-iodine diet. No sea salt or iodized salt, no dairy, no soy, no egg yolks, no rhubarb, no Red Dye #3, no potato skins, nothing processed, and most legumes are out of the question. She can have most fresh fruits and veggies, about 5 oz of meat a day, grains, and nuts that aren't salted. Peanut butter (or almond or cashew) is OK if the salt isn't iodized. I've volunteered to bake some "safe" breads and make some casseroles. Right now, though, her freezer is stuffed with a big package she got from Omaha Steaks as a get-well gift from her office. They are trying to eat up the salty things (stuffed potatoes, hot dogs, etc.) before she has to start the diet. Just imagine if you were trying to LC and had to do this low-iodine diet, too! I don't think it could be done! __________________ 5'7.5" 59 yo

11-10-2009, 10:39 AM	#2
Leo41 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,952 Gallery: Leo41	Not true--I could do that easily because I'm essentially eating primal now (although I use salt, I could readily cut it out). I eat meat, fish, veggies and egg whites. I don't use egg yolks at all because I try to follow an anti-inflammatory diet to reduce the inflammation from my arthritis. (You don't mention fish, but I could have only meat if necessary.) My regular diet is more restrictive (by choice) than the low iodine one, so I would have no problem eating low carb without iodine if I had to.

11-10-2009, 07:53 PM	#3
clarke Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,151 Gallery: clarke	Is your DD going hypo for the RAI - meaning not on any meds or getting thyrogen shots? If going hypo naturally, she probably will feel pretty crappy by the time those two weeks are up that she may not feel much like eating much anyway. My TSH was up to 89 about 5 days prior to having RAI, I had no appetite and was fairly nauseous. Even being so hypo, I managed to lose a few pounds. Good luck to her. Hopefully it will all be behind her soon, she can be medicated properly and move on with her life. __________________ f/51 yo/ 5'7" Restart 1/4/10 155.5 LC since 12/29 1/11/10 153.0