How many carbs a day to NOT trigger thyroid disturbance

I've heard low carbs mess with thyroid function. I am hypo and am on Synthroid. I lost alot of hair last time I went low carb. Do you know how many carbs a day one should have to off set any thyroid disturbances?

[QUOTE=uniquelymade;981974]I've heard low carbs mess with thyroid function. I am hypo and am on Synthroid. I lost alot of hair last time I went low carb. Do you know how many carbs a day one should have to off set any thyroid disturbances?[/QUOTE]

I provided this info in another post a while ago:
My understanding:
The[B] possible[/B] issue with VLC for[B] some[/B] people does not impact the function of the thyroid. It can impact thyroid hormone conversion. Thyroidmanager.org* suggests that people need a minimum of 50 grams/day of glucose for good T4( storage hormone)to T3( active hormone) conversion. With this in mind, ingesting less than 50 grams of carbs/day long term MAY negatively impact conversion.

I recall reading somewhere (can't remember where) that an issue with VLC and conversion is person specific- not impacted at all, impacted quickly with VLC, impacted after long term VLC or something in between.

That being said, other things can impact conversion as well:
1. Not eating enough
2. Low selenium. 200mcg/day is needed
3. Low Vitamin D
4. Low ferritin

* [URL="http://www.thyroidmanager.org/chapter/effects-of-the-environment-chemicals-and-drugs-on-thyroid-function/"]Effects of the Environment, Chemicals and Drugs on Thyroid Function – Thyroid Disease Manager[/URL]
scroll down to Nutrition
[URL="http://www.thyroidmanager.org/chapter/the-non-thyroidal-illness-syndrome/"]The Non-Thyroidal Illness Syndrome – Thyroid Disease Manager[/URL]
scroll down to Low T3 states

I think you mentioned something about feeling best with a TSH of 3. It left me wondering if your medication dosage was determined by TSH alone. If you haven't had freeT4 and freeT3 tested I suggest you have those tests run.

Well the answer is none since you ask about "thyroid function".....but marcadav's answer is quite right as to why "some" people seem to have issue or report certain symptoms.

Here is a good article on it [url=http://aworldlymonk.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/low-carb-diets-and-hypothyroidism-a-false-alarm/]Low-Carb Diets and Hypothyroidism: A False Alarm « A Worldly Monk[/url]

I think 50 grams a day would serve as a good low point. And this should go without saying, but just in case, don't try to get to 50 grams with leafy greens and non-starchy vegetables. I would use a dense starch like white potatoes, white rice or cassava.

I tend to function best at 75-100g. I also think Tim has a point. Set it at 50 and adjust as necessary.

Thank you all so much!

My hair too sheds a lot on vlc. I lost 30+ lbs while in ketosis and other than my hair falling off i didn't experience other negative efect. Now i'm at 70 - 90 grams of carbs. Vegetables, few servings of fruit a day and sweet potato every other day are my carb sources. I'm neither losing or gaining now at 125 lbs and my hair is healthy and strong. If i am to go below 50 g for only a day, the shedding starts again. Kind of crazy.
I would really like to lose a few more pounds, but i guess i'll just have to count calories from here on. No going back to vlc for me :(

I had some severe hypothyroid symptoms going low carb for too long. I suspect the level of carbs needed to prevent thyroid suppression are different for everybody.

Chris Kresser is a pretty awesome paleo/primal type doctor who has a pretty informative website with some great articles, especially on thyroid. If you haven't read them, they are worth checking out:

[url]http://chriskresser.com/thyroid[/url]

[QUOTE=BestBetter;982163]I had some severe hypothyroid symptoms going low carb for too long. I suspect the level of carbs needed to prevent thyroid suppression are different for everybody.
[/QUOTE]

^This. +1.

I do much better when I get 60-80g of carbs a day. Below 50g is when it makes a difference in my thyroid levels.

I would use a dense starch like white potatoes