Quote Originally Posted by Catrin View Post
I admit that I am suspicious over the claims that XYZ diet can address a malfunctioning thyroid. Then again, that suspicion is probably over someone trying to convince me that removing wheat from my diet would address MY thyroid issues....apparently the news that I do not HAVE a thyroid at all didn't change her mind at all.

To me it was kind of like the old adage - if the only tool you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail. Nothing wrong with checking out different options, but there is so much differing information out there.
I'm suspicious as well. But I do want to clarify something in your post. As it relates to hyper or hypothyroidism caused by autoimmune disease, it is not the thyroid, itself, that is malfunctioning. Rather, it's the autoantibodies in your body attacking your thyroid (and often your eyes) that is root of the problem. By removing the thyroid (or in my case, taking antithyroid medicine), you are not eliminating the autoantibodies. Rather, you merely eliminate or alter the gland that they are attacking.

So, I suppose there are other things one could do--although I'm not sure diet is one of them--that could potentially eliminate or reduce the autoantibodies that are the root cause of Graves' and Hashimotos. Clearly, though; once you've had your thyroid removed or radiated, I would presume you have to take a drug to replace the otherwise missing thyroid hormone. No change in diet is going to create hormones from a now nonexistent gland.