Flax and Hypothyroid

[des]

Hi all. Well as a recent TSH score was 3.0, I may be diagnosed with hypothyroidism in the next few days. (Waiting for new TSH and FT3/FT4 score now). It's something I always suspected anyway, and it's great to have a doctor who's actually paying attention.

Anyway, in my research I've seen a number of times that generally people with hypo are supposed to avoid flax in all forms. It has some properties that can slow the thyroid. Some are affected, some are not. I'm kinda bummed to read that as I've really enjoyed adding it to my low carb diet. However I have been stalled for nearly a month now. So I'm cutting it out and increasing my coconut oil intake to see if that will help at all. Trial and error I susppose.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has read about this or discovered they have to avoid flax.

[Alexa]

Hi there,

I'm seeing this a bit late, but am egar to know if you have broken the stall by removing flax? I have been taking it for a few months and have been stalled nearly the whole time! But I think this might be just because I'm nearing goal.

I've not heard about this link between the two before, I'll have a look in my books.

Thanks for sharing

[Laurenfra]

I have no idea about the thyroid issue but I know its a big staller for me

[Alexa]

Really?! Yikes - I've just been taking flax oil, does that have a stalling affect with you?

[Laurenfra]

Alexa I dont take the oil this was just from eating the flax meal

[Alexa]

Ok thanks. I think I'll leave it out for a while and see if it has an effect anyways.

[des]

Well it didn't make a difference either way for me as it appears I have a combination of issues that make weightloss impossible for me right now. But I am still curious whether there is a link between flax and slowing thyroid. Since so many stall while using it, the theory seems quite possibly correct.

[Alexa]

Hi des,

Sorry to hear you are having health issues - I hope you can get them resolved.

I will avoid the flax oil for now and see how I go. Thanks again for the info.

[*Wendy*]

Hi Des,

I'm not sure about the flax but your question got be wondering if maybe that's what is wrong with me lately. I have been eating alot of flax 5-6 days a week for a month or two now and never considered that it could be contributing to both my major slowdown in weight loss AND the symptoms of my thyroid condition returning. (Cold, exhuasted, cloudy headed and SLOW are my symptoms.)

Oddly enough, I had my bloodwork tested just lately and my TSH was just fine - but I do have the symptoms again! But he wouldn't adjust my Synthroid levels up from 125 mcg based just on symptoms.

After just the bit I've read in this thread, I'm convinced that it could be a staller for alot of people, so I'm cutting out flax for a few weeks to see if things change for me. If doing this makes my thyroid symptoms disappear, I'll be sure to post back here & let you know!

[purplecat]

Yes, I'd like to know too. I just now got a dx (after having tried to get a dx for the last 3 years). I'm on the low dose of Synthroid. I was taking the Omega oils with Flax oil. I don't want to keep myself sick by putting something in my body that isn't doing me good.

I'll research as well and get back to you. Thanks for the red flag.