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elleng

(131,196 posts)
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 02:36 PM Jan 2014

Kale? Juicing? Trouble Ahead

Imagine my shock, then, at my last physical, when my doctor told me I had hypothyroidism, common in women over 40. When I got home I looked up the condition on the Internet and found a list of foods to avoid. Kale, which I juiced every morning, tops the list, followed by broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and collard greens — the cruciferous vegetables I consumed in large quantities because they are thought to prevent cancer, which runs in my family. And flax — as in the seeds — high in omega 3’s, that I sprinkled on cereal and blended in strawberry almond milk smoothies. Also forbidden: almonds and strawberries, not to mention soy, peaches, peanuts, corn, radishes, rutabaga and spinach.

And then, as if my world was not sufficiently rocked, I went to the dentist, who said I had five cavities and asked if I snacked on candy and sodas all day long. I was insulted. Indignant. What did he take me for? No, I answered. I don’t eat sugar and drink only fresh vegetable juices — no longer kale, of course, but carrot and celery, which I’m still allowed. And filtered water with lemon.

“You’d be better off with chocolate and cola,” he said. Apparently the natural sugars in fruit and vegetable juices can cause decay, and lemon, though high in vitamin C and bioflavonoids which may prevent cancer, had eroded the enamel that protected my teeth.

I argued that I always brushed afterward. “Worst thing you can do,” he said. “That’s when the teeth are most vulnerable. Always wait half an hour after eating or drinking anything before brushing your teeth. And don’t brush more than twice daily. You’re destroying what little enamel you have left.”

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/01/kale-juicing-trouble-ahead/?hp&rref=opinion/international

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Kale? Juicing? Trouble Ahead (Original Post) elleng Jan 2014 OP
Oh crap. truebluegreen Jan 2014 #1
Don't worry by the time you starve to death sharp_stick Jan 2014 #2
Does that mean you suffer from hypothyroidism too? truebluegreen Jan 2014 #6
I just went vegan and was hypothyroid before I started. I'm eating lots of the stuff you are mucifer Jan 2014 #3
I've been hypothyroid for years, elleng Jan 2014 #4
yeah I like discussing these things. I appreciate the info. mucifer Jan 2014 #7
I've been on levothyroxine for years as well, truebluegreen Jan 2014 #8
No idea. elleng Jan 2014 #9
Oh well. truebluegreen Jan 2014 #11
If your TSH isn't changing as your dose changes, it sounds like something in the winter is coming Jan 2014 #15
Thank you. truebluegreen Jan 2014 #16
It's possible to have both primary and secondary hypothyroidism. winter is coming Jan 2014 #17
Again, thank you. truebluegreen Jan 2014 #18
You're welcome and good luck. n/t winter is coming Jan 2014 #19
seems like if that's the only problem with kale etc... you could just Schema Thing Jan 2014 #5
You'd have to eat bushels of cruciferous veggies daily Lex Jan 2014 #10
But, but, but I just bought a blender. applegrove Jan 2014 #12
You can do all sorts of things with a blender, elleng Jan 2014 #13
I just made my first green smoothie. Parsley, spinach, ginger, lemon juice, granny smith applegrove Jan 2014 #14
These "Barney Fife" "professionals" are always trying to scare us. twirlybird Jan 2014 #20
At least their degree is not from a library. William769 Jan 2014 #21
They recommended cigarettes...? Agschmid Jan 2014 #22
Shills, eh? uppityperson Jan 2014 #23
 

truebluegreen

(9,033 posts)
1. Oh crap.
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 02:51 PM
Jan 2014

I knew about soy, and don't care about rutabagas, but darn near everything else on that list is a favorite.

I'm running out of things to eat.

sharp_stick

(14,400 posts)
2. Don't worry by the time you starve to death
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 03:00 PM
Jan 2014

from the latest fad you'll be healthy as a horse.

People need to lay off the bullshit, eat a well balanced diet and forget every now and again what some dude wrote in a book.

mucifer

(23,576 posts)
3. I just went vegan and was hypothyroid before I started. I'm eating lots of the stuff you are
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 03:21 PM
Jan 2014

mentioning.

I think I will go to my doctor and have my levels checked.

I'd rather be on more levothyroxine and get vitamin B 12 injections than kill animals.

We all make choices.

The NIH just suggests not taking in lots of soy. I can do that. It doesn't say anything about the other veggies you mentioned.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000353.htm

I really need to talk with my doctor.

elleng

(131,196 posts)
4. I've been hypothyroid for years,
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 03:29 PM
Jan 2014

and not concerned about 'fads.' I take levothyroxine.

Saw the article, and thought people would be interested in it. Also expected contrary/etc discussion.

mucifer

(23,576 posts)
7. yeah I like discussing these things. I appreciate the info.
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 03:46 PM
Jan 2014

I wasn't the one who called what you are doing a "fad" BTW.
Maybe my doc could make a referral to a good dietician.

 

truebluegreen

(9,033 posts)
8. I've been on levothyroxine for years as well,
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 03:47 PM
Jan 2014

and have persistently low TSH (and energy, and problems with weight). I've been moving around and every time I see a new doctor he/she adjusts my dosage up or down--even when T3 and T4 are within range--and yet the TSH never changes. I'm just curious if you have any insight.

elleng

(131,196 posts)
9. No idea.
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 04:03 PM
Jan 2014

Same dosage for a long time, I haven't followed my numbers tho my doc does. No real problems with energy, rarely really high, and no real problems with weight. SHOULD exercise more, but motivation may be more emotional than physical.

winter is coming

(11,785 posts)
15. If your TSH isn't changing as your dose changes, it sounds like something in the
Fri Jan 3, 2014, 10:50 AM
Jan 2014

hypothalmus-pituitary-thyroid loop isn't communicating properly, which means the doctor should be concentrating on keeping your T3 and T4 levels near the upper end of "normal" instead of focusing on TSH.

 

truebluegreen

(9,033 posts)
16. Thank you.
Fri Jan 3, 2014, 10:55 AM
Jan 2014

I think you are right, that the issue is not the thyroid per se. I have an appointment next week with my newest doctor so maybe we can make some progress.

winter is coming

(11,785 posts)
17. It's possible to have both primary and secondary hypothyroidism.
Fri Jan 3, 2014, 11:00 AM
Jan 2014

That's rare (or believed to be rare), but if you've got a series of blood tests suggesting your TSH isn't responsive to your T3/T4 dose, it's a possibility that should be considered.

 

truebluegreen

(9,033 posts)
18. Again, thank you.
Fri Jan 3, 2014, 12:27 PM
Jan 2014

I've been struggling with this for years, and getting nowhere. As I said above, moving around/changing doctors a lot hasn't helped.

I've got some research to do. Thanks again.

Schema Thing

(10,283 posts)
5. seems like if that's the only problem with kale etc... you could just
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 03:35 PM
Jan 2014

supplement with iodine and still get all the really good stuff from those important veggies?

Lex

(34,108 posts)
10. You'd have to eat bushels of cruciferous veggies daily
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 04:36 PM
Jan 2014

for them to have any negative effect like that.

applegrove

(118,838 posts)
14. I just made my first green smoothie. Parsley, spinach, ginger, lemon juice, granny smith
Thu Jan 2, 2014, 07:32 PM
Jan 2014

apple, banana and a little stevia. I will leave out the lemon juice and stevia next time. I don't need it near as sweet.

twirlybird

(9 posts)
20. These "Barney Fife" "professionals" are always trying to scare us.
Mon Jan 6, 2014, 08:10 PM
Jan 2014

There is big money in scaring us to act in ways that will make them richer.

No matter what you do..these "professionals" will always tell you you are doing it wrong. At one time in our history doctors recommended smoking cigarettes. They're all "professionals" alright...among the world's oldest professions.

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