Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) and soy products

I am wondering if anyone knows if there is a problem
consuming soy products when you have low thyroid???
Somewhere I thought I read there was.....anyone???

Pat R.

Hi Pat....I have never hear that it was bad to eat soy. I have
hypothyroidism and non of my doctors have said anything about it.
My pharmasist usually informs me of things I need to avoid and he hasn't said anything either.
I see my surgeon next Friday for my one year surgiversary. I am going to ask him about it.
My PCP has been checking my thyroid every 6 weeks ....I am on a lower dose of syntroid every check up. She said I may not need it at all pretty soon.
I will watch to see what others post.

Hugs, connie d

Pat....just me again.....

I just called my pharmasist. He said soy shouldn't be a problem at all. He said once you start eating differently your body will change and your thyroid meds will need to be adjusted. That is normal.
He said that is why my PCP is watching me so closely.

Thats all I know ....I will continue to watch for other peoples posts on this subject.

Hugs, connie d

Thanks Connie for checking that out with your Pharmacist.

The reason I was asking is I have been making protein
ice cream from "The World According to Egg Face" website and they are made with soy milk. They are absolutely delicious and s/f as well as high in protein with a mimimum of calories (no more than a shake).

I have been on thyroid since age 12.....and until about six months ago, I was taking regular thyroid grain 2. The mfg no longer makes the regular thyroid, so my PCP put me on
synthroid = dosage .10. I don't think it's a high enough
dosage, but my blood work all came back normal, so he
says I don't need more. I know I haven't lost as good
as when I was on the regular thyroid...go figure!

Anyway it will be interesting to see what other responses
come thru.

Thanks again for your help.

Hugs,
Pat R.

Health and nutrition magazines tout the benefits of soy as a cure-all for women's health, hormonal problems, cancer prevention, weight loss, and many other problems. The reality, however, is that promotion of soy may be more a matter of business and marketing, rather than recommendations based on sound scientific evidence.

Isoflavones, the key components of soy that make them so potent as a posible substitute for hormone replacement, mean that soy products, while touted as foods and nutritional products -- often are used and act as like a hormonal drug.

If you have a diagnosed or undiagnosed thyroid problem, or a history of autoimmune disease, overconsumption of soy isoflavones can potentially trigger a thyroid condition. Soy foods can worsen an existing diagnosed thyroid problem in many people. In both cases the symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and depression or moodiness are often overlooked and hard to diagnose.

A recent study found that as millions of Americans -- perhaps as many as more than 10 million -- have an undiagnosed thyroid condition. The vast majority of thyroid patients are women over 40. This is the same group that, responding to marketing claims that promote soy as helping to prevent breast cancer, reducing the risk of high cholesterol or heart disease, or as a treatment for symptoms of menopause, are turning to soy foods and isoflavone supplements in vast numbers.

Here is more information regarding soy and its relationship to the thyroid.

FDA's Soy Experts Speak Out Against Soy

"there is abundant evidence that some of the isoflavones found in soy, including genistein and equol, a metabolize of daidzen, demonstrate toxicity in estrogen sensitive tissues and in the thyroid. This is true for a number of species, including humans.

Additionally, isoflavones are inhibitors of the thyroid peroxidase which makes T3 and T4. Inhibition can be expected to generate thyroid abnormalities, including goiter and autoimmune thyroiditis. There exists a significant body of animal data that demonstrates goitrogenic and even carcinogenic effects of soy products. Moreover, there are significant reports of goitrogenic effects from soy consumption in human infants and adults."

Thank you very much, Darlene.....I knew I could count on
you for good information.....

I will discontinue using the soy milk, altho' I'm not eating
that much of it. The protein ice cream can be made with regular milk, but the consistency will not be quite as
creamy.

Thanks again......wonder how many other people with
thyroid problems are aware of this??

Pat R.

A dear friend I work with has severe thyroid disease. Her docs told her no soy because it counteracts her meds. 

I can't take soy due to the hormonal effects.  Found that out when I was doing the LA Weight Loss plan, and everything they had was soy.  I won't go into the details but my gynecologist was surprized.  :-)

So many opinions its so confusing.  Good luck.

i'm glad to see others answering you- i only know what it can do to men--we were researching it when michael first had all his stomach problems in '05--it can cause or aggravate prostate troubles..so we decided against it then....


i'm still trying to get fundage to get my thyroid checked- g'ma ropp and my sister vicki both have probsfor years--and i question mine....

hugs to you

I have hypothyroidism and I have been told not to use soy products. Hope this helps

Thanks for all the info on soy. I have been on thyroid meds for years and no one has mentioned no soy, not even the nutrishionists, or the docs. HUMMMMM.