How Your Diet Affects Hormones

This Post Has 40 Comments

1. I tested low on thyroid hormone for over twenty years. I’ve been on thyroid pills on and off with as long as 1 year brakes.
   I am and always was slim, had good metabolism, had no problems with my periods (they ended 13 years ago when I was 55).
   I exercise regularly, eat healthy foods with low carbs and healthy oils.
   Though, I used to have an eczema, constipation, and have dry skin and thinning hair.
   Is it possible to heal hypothyroid and stop taking synthroid?

   1. Yes its possible. Many of my patients sort of forgot to refill and were fine without. A TSH test can tell you.

2. […] healthy paleo diet can help the body fortify its defenses. It can correct hormonal issues (thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, etc.), it can prevent/correct gut damage/leaky gut […]

3. […] manmade and is a result of exposure to an increasingly more polluted environment coupled with an unhealthier diet. There are studies which support this hypothesis and show that 40-50 year old men today have far […]

4. I’ve noticed the comments about thyroid seem to focus on the excess weight often associated with hypothyroidism. Do you know of or suspect any diet/lifestyle contributors to hyperthyroidism? I’m wondering if there are any ways to correct this problem either with diet or lifestyle changes. I’m concerned about someone who is fighting a problem with runaway weight LOSS along with severe fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, high resting heart rate, among other things, all this after about a year of regular long distance run training while on the SAD. At first they were just really trim, but the sleep problem started recently and the weight loss has continued even after they were unable to continue exercising due to the fatigue. I’m very concerned. Their eyes were sunken when I saw them last and didn’t look like the person I’ve known all my life. I have limited influence since I’m not seen as an authority on nutrition or medicine, but if there is research about anything contributing to hyperthyroidism specifically or if it is addressed in a book, I’d be really interested. I’ve searched online but so far have found nothing. Everything I’ve found on sites like webmd say “The cause of hyperthryroidism is an overactive thyroid gland…” Sheesh, it’s like saying the cause of rain is precipitation.

5. Hi Dr Cate,
   I’m a big fan of Deep Nutrition, and did a modified version (before i read it) and found the changes in my previous high carb/low fat over exercised body were extraordinary. Now in the past few years, and after discovering your book, I fell back into somewhat back habits (definitely lighter on the carbs though!) and a few failed pregnancies which threw my hormones and thyroid into a tailspin. I’m just now getting my thryroid back in shape but I’m stil experiencing the “apple” belly and a lot of hair loss which is depressing.

   I have cut back my frantic cardio to ballet-barre classes, so I think that’s helping, but have you seen any benefit to the 4 pillars with increased hair growth? I’ve lost about 40% of my hair, which wasn’t great to start,but had been in much better shape. I also can’t seem to lose an additional 6 pounds that popped up at the same time my thyroid went haywire and my hair loss started.

   Can your diet help with this? Thank you so much!

   1. I’ve heard from people who are enjoying 4-6 ounce of bone broths 3-4 days per week that it helps hair, skin, and nails. Trimming any excess carbs and eliminating pro-inflammatory oils is key to normalizing hormone function.

6. Hi Dr. Cate,
   This question is slightly off topic but still relates to hormones. I had a miscarriage (D&C at the end of May) and want to start trying again in September. I’ve read your AMAZING book and have been sticking to the principles religiously i.e. broths, bone meat, rare meat, raw dairy and salads. However, growing up I consumed WAY too much sugar and tranfats and have always suffered with irregular cycles and mild acne. Anyhow, i’m digressing. Your book talks about 2nd child syndrome. I’m wondering how much time i should leave between the first pregnancy (which died at 8 weeks) and the next one?

   p.s since seeing a chinese dr and eating according to the principles my skin has cleared and i’ve achieved a 29 day cycle!

   Would love to hear your thoughts…

   Simone.

7. What’s your take on “adaptogenic” herbs and their use for hormonal regulation? Are there any you think might have positive properties? What a great resource you are… I linked you here… http://www.freeyourfat.net/2012/02/my-fat-mantra.html

   1. Many of my patients have had good results from visiting herbalists. As far as the adaptogen theory goes, I am skeptical of all theories that do not appear to adapt as new discoveries arise.

8. Hi Dr Cate,
   Just ordered your books and waiting for them to get here, so excited to read more! Question… so if Deep Nutrition is followed, will the hormones (hot flashes/postmenapausal,sleeping issues) go away? I have just started BIH about 3 weeks ago and havent had much relief yet, dont want to supp if diet will correct things. Thanks Dr Cate.

   1. I have seen diet changes have opposite results in different people. I suspect this is because hormones are subject to both positive and negative feedback loops. The good news is that even when women get hot flashes they feel fewer mood swings, and the hot flashes do improve w/ HRT and I suspect are short lived but when people feel better they don’t come back so I don’t always get the follow up!

      1. Well I guess I’ll see how it goes when I get started. Good thing they dont come back, means you are doing some good! Thanks

9. Doctor C – Thanks for posting this! I am not overweight (I have always been around 115 – 120 lbs at 5′ 4″) but I have always struggled with menstrual problems such as irregular periods, discharge, yeast infections, & very low production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. My family doc put me on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy about 2.5 years ago and I went paleo one year ago. I feel very out out of balance & decided yesterday to go without the hormones – any advice? Thanks!

   1. Getting your diet right is key, and while going Paleo is a great first step, there may be more you can do by carefully following a more fully fleshed out traditional diet as described in Chapter 7 of Deep Nutrition.

10. What do you say to those who have concerns with their thyroid as a result of going paleo? What’s the best way to get iodine (I use celtic sea salt)? I have lost most of the hair on my arms/half from my legs and shed a lot every day from my head…to the point that our drains are plugging up. : ) Any recommendations?

    1. Great timing, I’ve been working on the issues and just posted today: https://drcate.com/going-low-carb-too-fast-may-trigger-thyroid-troubles-and-hormone-imbalance/

11. Is this recorded so we can listen later?

    1. Yes, as soon as Jimmy gets finished it will be posted http://www.askthelowcarbexperts.com/2012/02/7-the-long-term-effects-of-the-high-carb-sad-diet-dr-cate-shanahan/

12. Hi all
    I’m still early in my semi-Paleo diet – i do all the things Dr. Cate recommends except i eat more carbs – sticking mostly to fermented whole grains and lentils or garbanzos, usually germinated. It has been very helpful to me, and that means a lot to me because i have a long-term chronic fatigue condition (not the syndrome).
    I commented under the ‘What’s for dinner’ section that i have for a while been fasting until 5pm every day, and then eating in the evening, up to 10 or 11 (just snacking by then). I started because from my continual observation of my own response to foods, i finally noticed that eating in the evenings didn’t make me super sleepy like it did during the day – not even carbs, which are usually by far the worst for that for me. (Various other dietary adjustments probably made it easier to detect that pattern.)
    My body most definitely responds differently to food in the evening than it does during the day. I can’t imagine having a breakfast like what i eat for dinner without it completely wiping me out for the rest of the day. Somehow, that difference has to be a hormonal thing, right?
    I just thought i’d tack that on here since most of you probably wouldn’t see that comment where it is. I have an atypical metabolism, so i don’t know how much my case applies to others. I don’t have any other ongoing health issues – i could stand to switch maybe 10lbs of fat to muscle, but i’m not overweight and have had only one or two short periods of being a bit heavy in the past.
    Perhaps i could over time move the period when i eat earlier into the day, even to the morning. Perhaps the fact that the evening works for me has to do with long-term habits, not anything essential about my body. But the results are consistent, and dramatic enough for me to be willing to not eat for 18 or 19 hours a day.

13. The timing of your interview is great. There’s a popular real food blogger who just posted a huge article regarding how they’re leaving low carb to go high carb in order to balance their hormones. Nearing 500 comments now, people are certainly having a strong debate over there. Doesn’t it seem like a world gone mad? I don’t want to have to count this and that and measure out so much of this and take it at an exact time of day. It’s food! Just let me eat… I feel though, that grasping your four pillar concept is so much easier and allows for excellent health without excess thought. Fantastic! Anyway, I’m really looking forward to hearing “the other side of the coin”, as it were, on what you’ll have to say about food and hormones!

    1. Sabrina,
       Please tell us who it is. And please also do share our upcoming information with them in case someone wants to call in and ask questions.

14. Hi Dr. Cate
    Thanks for sharing all this info!
    I have been eating the 4 pillars almost exclusivly now, and with amazing results, I feel so much better, I no longer need energy drinks to get through the day.
    I have so many questions, I wish you lived in my area, I would make an appointment!
    Do you do house calls over the phone?

    1. Hi Michael
       I would love to be able to help you. Please see the Make an Appointment tab and scroll down to the FAQ section: Do You Do Phone Consults?

       1. Cool! thanks Dr.! I better put together a list so I can keep the consult to under 30min. its pretty spendy, but worth it I am sure…

15. I’m looking forward to your interview with Jimmy Moore — which happens to bring up an older topic. You kindly answered a question I posted several weeks ago regarding raw milk; the gist of the question concerning reports that patients taking a ‘raw-milk cure’ reportedly drank very large amount of raw milk (and its carbs) without accompanying weight gain. Since you’ll be talking with Jimmy, you might ask him about his tests on his own blood sugars levels after drinking various beverages, including raw milk. He wrote “Raw milk, despite having 12g carbs, saw a flatline glucose response.” If you’re interested, Jimmy describes his test at the following link (the raw milk result is about 2/3 of the way down the page.)

    http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/jimmy-moore’s-n1-experiments-atkins-protein-shakes/11363

16. Hi Dr Cate,

    Thanks for another great post.
    I am just wondering if it makes a difference when these 2tbsp of carb are consumed i.e. if they are eaten all once or spread out so you have a very small amount with each meal?

    Thanks,
    Samantha

    1. I’ve heard arguments that eating this or that macronutrient should be done at a certain time in relation to sleep. None are compelling, in my opinion.

17. I sent Jimmy the following questions. Hopefully one if them will get asked but I wanted to post here so you know what might be coming.

    “In Deep Nutrition you say, paraphrasing,
    ‘Trans fat consumption interferes with hormone expression and daily infusions of sugar interferes with hormone receptivity.’(On my kindle it is listed at location 922, I don’t have a page #)
    In considering this could it be plausible that in the absence of trans fat (and mega trans fat) our bodies would be better able to deal with a higher carb diet? Could this perhaps help explain the French ‘paradox’?

    A second question if there is time

    In the LLVC interview episode 459 you discussed the phenomenon called apoptosis which is possibly the only way to eliminate stored trans fats. Extremely fascinating! You mention the importance of exercise and nutrition for this process to occur but didn’t go into details. Would you be able to expand on what type of nutrition is needed and if the type of exercise matters?”

    1. and by ‘french paradox’ I don’t really mean as it is commonly understood (what do you mean satruated fat doesn’t cause heart diesases?!?!) but rather their love of pastries… at least that is how I precieve it.

    2. Good questions! Thanks, Mike

18. […] Changing our diet can also help rebalance our hormones How Your Diet Affects Hormones: Optimizing Weight, Moods, and More | drcate.com […]

19. Dr. Cate, I loved your book and I appreciate you taking on the vital role hormones play in fat accumulation. Do you plan to discuss the role of leptin and insulin on fat accumulation? I didn’t see the endocrine effect from fat tissue in the diagram since leptin is secreted by fat. The figure is intriguing and helpful. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the importance of keeping leptin and insulin levels low via high fat diets, and how keeping these hormone levels low enables fat burning. Thanks also for teaching caution with regard to hormone replacement.

    1. The diagram represents only the tip of the iceberg of the known hormone interactions. Or biology is far too complicated for our limited probing to enable us to manipulate it effectively or intelligently from the top down, ie by artificially modulating our hormone levels. Far better to do whatever we can to limit interference in this natural ecosystem, and I plan to describe that aspect of my approach on Thursday’s program.

       1. Thank you for trying to put our complex endocrine system into perspective. If any one can do it, you can. Do you consider Vitamin D3 supplementation as a hormone replacement? I find it hard to get enough D through food and sunlight exposure in winter is limited for me.

          1. Hi Patrick
             D3 is one of the few supplements I recommend. It’s a hormone, technically, but our bodies have never made this hormone completely by ourselves. We either needed to expose our skin to it or eat it.

             1. Thanks for the response. The vitamin D council recommends 1,000 IU per 25 pounds of body weight so at 161 lbs, I’ve been taking about 5,000 to 7,000 IU per day.

                The only other hormone I’ve considered is Pregnenolone. Dr. Ron Rosedale, whom I also greatly respect, recommends 50mg/day for those who are over 50 and letpin/insulin resistant, due to research showing improved mood, neural, and memory function. What are your thoughts on supplementing with pregnenolone?

             2. I’m a minimalist. If you have sx and supplementing makes you feel better, that’s one thing. If you feel fine an want to prevent something, I’m not sure taking hormones is a great idea because you can end up suppressing normal gland function.

20. […] studied ethnobotany and her healthiest patient’s culinary habits. She’s a big believer in hormone regulation and the impact diet plays on it and will be answering YOUR questions related to the long-term effects of eating a SAD diet. If you […]

21. Yay! Finally someone to talk about the hormones and the dis-regulation without leading us to the alleged only solution of “Hormone Supplementation”.
    And of course it is you, Dr Cate who can step up to the plate and deliver the news, Mahalo nui loa!
    I look forward to the show you and Jimmy…Great Team!

    Aloha, Gina

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