Is tea drinking bad if you're hypo?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Is tea drinking bad if you're hypo?
3
Mon, 08-02-2004 - 2:41pm

Hi! I just found this board, and I'm wondering whether anyone knows about the effects of drinking tea on people with hypothyroidism. By way of introduction, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's back in 2000, and have been on various levels of Levoxyl ever since (my original TSH was 5.1). My new endo was concerned with the size of the goiter I have (it was 4.3 cm., multiple nodules, but biopsy and ultrasound confirm no malignancy), and upped my meds from 50 mcg to 100 mcg back in April. That pushed my TSH down to .07, so now I've started on 75 mcg as of this week. The nodule size decreased to 3.9 cm when I was on the 100 mcg. Oh, and I'm also TTC right now, with no luck after seven cycles so far.


Anyway, I am a big-time tea drinker, and was very surprised to have come across some info that tea drinking can worsen thyroid problems (!). I drink about two cups of brewed tea each day (lately it's Rooibos tea, but also green tea, too), plus about two cups of iced green (or occasionally black) tea per day. I thought the green tea and the Rooibos (which is also known as "red tea," and is caffeine free) were giving me healthy benefits, and now I'm worried that I'm doing more harm than good. Does anyone know if tea is a bad idea for hypo patients? I know it's supposed to be due to the fluoride in it, but I don't know how much is in each type of tea (maybe the Rooibos would be OK)? Honestly, I'm not sure what I'd drink without my tea, LOL. I don't drink soda or juices, though I do like water and I do like milk (hope there's nothing wrong with those, or I'm in big trouble!).


Thanks for any input anyone has!

~Kim


"Becoming a parent means agreeing to allow your heart to go walking around outside of your body."

~Kim

"Becoming a parent means agreeing to allow your heart to go walking around outside of your body."

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Mon, 08-02-2004 - 3:49pm
Hi Kim - Yes, it isn't good to drink tea when you're hypo. And you're right, it's the floride that's bad for you. ALl tea naturally has floride!! I gave up coffee to drink green tea, then found that info out about the floride. I tried to go to herbal teas but just don't really like them. Then I tried flaovred waters but didn't like those either. So now I'm drinking bottled water and it's the best thing that I've ever done. I drink about 126 oz a day and that's more than I ever drank before when I was drinking tea. And it's been great for so many reasons. I'm so much less bloated now than I was before and I feel great. SO ...... I'm sorry about the tea, too, because I relaly loved it! But I'm more tahn happy about the water! Maybe you can find something that works for you! Here's the article I read on it: http://www.bruha.com/pfpc/html/green_tea___.html Cathy :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2004
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 9:51am
I had my first endo doc appointment on MOnday and asked him that very question about tea because I had read that also but he said it was fine to drink tea. Maybe becasue he said I have a mild case of hypo? I don't know, now I am totally confused!!!

Jen

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 6:25pm
No - it's not because you have a mild case but because .......... many doctors just don't know any better!! I don't know if people with other conditions and diseases go through what we do, but I have never seen such a gross lack of knowledge as it pertains to our health and well-being as doctors have dipslayed with me, with my children and with many of you!!! You have to be your own doctor with this disease. The only thing you can't do is raise your medication dose when you need to!! But you need to learn about every aspect of it and what you need to do to take care of yourself. I wish it weren't true, but it sure seems to be! Cathy :)