The ketogenic (or “keto”) diet is a low-carb diet emphasizing high-fat intake and limiting carbohydrates. Historically, the keto diet was developed as an alternative treatment for epileptic children. (1) It also shows promise for use in treating other chronic illnesses, including diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cancer. (2) Given its potential health benefits, you may wonder: is the keto diet for hypothyroidism best? Here’s what I recommend as far as keto and hypothyroidism go.

Keto and Hypothyroidism

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet. It triggers the body’s natural metabolic process known as “ketosis.” 

Consuming minimal amounts of carbohydrates deprives your body of its natural fuel source, glucose. Instead, it’s forced to use stored fat as fuel instead. As stored fat is broken down, your liver produces “ketones,” a type of fatty acid. Next, it sends them into your bloodstream, where your muscles and other tissues use them as fuel. 

Ketosis usually happens when you're fasting. But it can also occur if your body doesn't have glucose — its usual energy source — and instead has medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) to use for energy. MCTs are fats commonly found in foods like coconut.

The keto diet helps lower inflammation and supports a healthy immune system, especially for your thyroid. You’ve likely heard me discuss how carbohydrates and sugars are highly inflammatory foods. Therefore, the best diet for hypothyroidism works to eliminate foods that feed inflammation. So, you may want to consider the keto diet for hypothyroidism. First, let’s talk about hypothyroidism. 

What Is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. This isn’t good since thyroid hormones affect nearly every part of your body, including your metabolism, brain, heart, muscles, hair, and skin. Without enough thyroid hormone, your bodily processes slow down to a sluggish crawl. Research shows that women and those with autoimmune diseases are more likely to develop hypothyroidism. (3)

Function of the Adrenal Glands

Chronic stress can also provoke hypothyroidism. Your adrenals produce stress hormones, such as cortisol. When you experience stress, a cascade of stress hormones signals your body to slow down all unnecessary processes. One of these processes is your thyroid hormone production.

In our modern society, many of us experience one stressor after another. Chronic stress overworks your adrenals. They’re unable to keep up with the constant demand for more and more stress hormones. This inevitably leaves you in a state of adrenal fatigue. This flooding and eventual plummeting of stress hormones cause your thyroid activity to come to a screeching halt.

Adrenal Fatigue and Ketosis

Achieving ketosis has been attributed to rapid weight loss and enhanced energy and brain function. However, keto and hypothyroidism combined can be a major strain on the adrenals. You see, reduced carb intake leads to a decrease in thyroid hormone levels and an increase in cortisol. This decreases thyroid function further and means more work for your adrenals. (4) 

If you’re already seeing signs of adrenal fatigue, you don’t want to stress them even more by going into ketosis. In this case, the keto diet for hypothyroidism may not be the best option. 

This vicious cycle that happens between keto and hypothyroidism is why you should proceed with caution when choosing the best diet for hypothyroidism. This is especially true if adrenal fatigue is one of the primary triggers of your hypothyroidism. For this reason, I would recommend avoiding going into ketosis until you have addressed your stress levels.

Signs of Adrenal Fatigue

When you engage in stressful activities, your body enters the fight-or-flight mode, believing you need a surge of energy to survive. Cortisol’s main function is to provide you with that burst of energy. 

So, when you are stressed, cortisol increases your blood sugar. It also suppresses your immune system to save energy. Then, it begins breaking down your storage of protein and carbohydrates. 

Over time, high cortisol levels can lead to insulin resistance. It will also weaken your immune system. If not properly addressed, it will eventually cause muscle wasting. Other signs of adrenal fatigue include: (5)

• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Body aches and muscle pain
• Fatigue (difficulty getting out of bed in the morning)
• Low blood pressure
• Salt and sugar cravings
• Shakiness or lightheadedness after skipping a meal
• Dizziness upon standing
• Feeling tired and/or wired
• Sleep disturbance
• Low libido
• Infertility
• Thyroid imbalances
• Hair loss
• Blurred vision
• Severe allergies

Avoid Keto Until Stress is Under Control

As I mentioned above, reducing your carb intake on a keto diet can potentially increase your cortisol levels. When your adrenals are working in overdrive to produce enough cortisol, your immune system is weakened. This can lead to any of the signs of adrenal fatigue listed above and even autoimmunity.

So, before considering a ketogenic diet, make sure your stress is under control to avoid further hormone imbalance.

Supplements for Thyroid Function

Whatever you decide is the best diet for hypothyroidism, certain nutrients will keep things running smoothly. Here’s a breakdown of important chemicals and nutrients for keto and hypothyroidism:

Iodine

Think of iodine as one of the building blocks of thyroid hormones. Your thyroid combines iodine with another building block, tyrosine, to make hormones like T3 and T4 (the numbers represent how many iodine atoms are attached). Without enough iodine, your thyroid simply can’t do its job, leaving your body short on these vital hormones.

Selenium

Think of selenium as the jump-start your thyroid hormones need to get moving. It’s essential for converting T4 (inactive) into T3 (active), which your body uses. Without selenium, your thyroid hormones are stuck in their inactive state. Next stop —  hypothyroid symptoms. 

Zinc

Like selenium, zinc plays a role in the enzyme needed to convert T4 to T3. It also ensures your hypothalamus (your brain’s hormone command center) can properly sense your thyroid hormone levels. If you’re low on zinc, your body might not get the signal to make more hormones, leading to sluggish thyroid function.

Iron

Iron plays a double role in thyroid health. First, it helps convert iodide (the form of iodine in your diet) into iodine, which is crucial for hormone production. Second, like selenium and zinc, iron is needed to activate T4 into T3. Low iron can mean low thyroid activity—another reason to keep those iron levels in check!

Is Keto Diet For Hypothyroidism Best For You

Everybody is different. So it’s important to listen to your body. You should know what you do or do not tolerate when choosing the best diet for hypothyroidism. You may do perfectly fine on a keto diet. Or you might find the keto diet for hypothyroidism doesn’t work for you. 

Either way, if you determine that keto is the best diet for hypothyroidism, be sure to consult your doctor first and monitor your thyroid levels closely during this time.

It’s just as important to determine if you should try a keto diet if you have an autoimmune disease. The fact is, most thyroid conditions are triggered by autoimmunity. Whether you choose a keto, AIP, Paleo, elimination, or any other diet, the important thing is nourishing your body and giving it the nutrients it needs. This will send you on your way to achieving optimal health!

Supplements for Adrenals and Thyroid

Stress has practically become a badge of honor in today’s fast-paced world. Nevertheless, it’s wreaking havoc on our health — including our adrenals and thyroid. 

The best way to support your adrenals and accompanying thyroid problems long-term is to manage your stress. Realistically speaking, there will always be stress in your life. Learning to let go of stressful situations instead of holding onto them can make a big difference. It helps reduce the physical toll that chronic stress takes on your body. 

For additional support for adrenal-thyroid health, I recommend:

• Adaptogenic herbs help the body adapt and cope with stress. My go-to supplement to support the adrenal gland contains Rhodiola rosea, Panax ginseng, and several other herbal extracts. Adrenal Support promotes a healthy stress response.
• All B vitamins are critical for the chemical processes within the adrenal glands.  This makes my multivitamin ideal for adrenal support. It contains all 8 B vitamins in their pre-methylated forms.
• For added adrenal support, you can also take Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, and magnesium.

The Final Word on Keto Diet For Hypothyroidism

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to managing hypothyroidism. While it has its benefits, the keto diet for hypothyroidism may not be the best option for everyone — especially if you have stress and adrenal fatigue. The bottom line? Listen to your body, address your stress, and nourish your thyroid with the right nutrients to help it thrive.

If you are considering the keto diet, please make sure your stress is under control first. You can do this by supporting your adrenals with stress-management techniques and essential nutrients like iodine, selenium, zinc, and iron. Supplements can also be useful, especially ones designed to target adrenal and thyroid health.

Lucky for you, we have several pharmaceutical-grade supplements to help support your thyroid. You can try Adrenal Support — a combination of adaptogenic herbs and nutrients to support overall adrenal gland health. The Myers Way®Multivamin includes iodine, zinc, and selenium — three important minerals to support your thyroid. For more adrenal support, you can take Complete Omega-3 and NeuroCalm Mag.

So show your thyroid some TLC and take control of your well-being. You’ve got this!