OT--for the thyroid peeps here

I posted this in the weight loss group, but because there are some thyroid sufferers here, I thought I'd x-post it. I have a question about the diet I've started. Milk is not part of this diet, but I just cannot drink my morning coffee black. So what's worse--using regular (organic) milk, or using nondairy creamer with all that soy that's deadly for a hypo person's thyroid? What's your vote?

I do drink my coffee black, and I have no problems with my 2 percent milk, but I've been dying to try this stuff!! It will probably cost much more, but I don't use that much except for cereal (and my fur baby gets any milk left in the bowl when the cereal's gone!) or for cooking mac and cheese or pancakes etc.I'm shopping today, and I'm going to look for it in the quart size if it's available. Let you know how it is. JA

I was using it on my low-fat granola (before I had to start this no-carb diet). And I use it in fruit smoothies. But alas, it's too "thin" for my coffee, which, honestly, you can eat with a knife and fork! LOL! I need more substance...

It's pretty thick and rich, and you can probably find a recipe online to make it yourself. Here's one I just found and the ratio of water to nuts (4:1) is the same as one I've read recently for almond milk:

cashew milk

Thanks! Bookmarked! :)

In my experience, basically any nut can be turned into a milk, but the ones most used that way are almond and cashew, then rice and coconut milk.

That reminds me, have you seen the coconut milk produced by Turtle Mountain? It's really good and not at all like canned coconut milk you'd use in curry sauces :9

So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage

No, I haven't seen that, but I will definitely keep an eye out for it! I really don't like the canned coconut milk for drinking--it's hard to remix after having settled, and I swear it has the consistency and grayness of drywall paste. I was really hoping to find some truly pourable coconut milk. Making notes...

and I'll just drink it like any 'milk'. I haven't drank real milk in decades, so I usually go with soy, rice or almond, and getting the coconut milk only every now and then. You may have to look around (or call around) for it, as it hasn't been on the market that long, and mainstream stores are always slow to put new products out, especially healthy ones.

And if you want more sources for future research, these are the recipe sites I use the most:

http://www.recipesource.com
http://www.recipezaar.com
http://delicioustv.com

I'm lucky to have a pretty large natural-food store fairly close by. It's mega-expensive, but they usually have any and all things organic/natural anyone's looking for, as well as a ton of supplements. But I looked at the "find a store" link on the coconut milk site, and apparently every location of our ubiquitous famous local supermarket carries it as well. perhaps I wasn't looking closely enough in their organic section. I will check next time I go there!

unlike the unrefrigerated Tetra Pak boxes usually used for soy/rice/almond milks. You might call your groceries first, just to see if they stock it, unless you have other shopping to do anyway ;)

Call them, too, or ask in the store, as I've found that even though Whole Foods carries it, they aren't always where you would expect them to be stocked.

Oh one other thing. Although Silk brand makes a coffee-creamer, I avoid Silk products because they told American organic farmers they had to match prices from Chinese-farmed soybeans. So, of course, they couldn't feasibly do that and now Silk is only barely "organic" if not really that at all. Here's an article about that: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18271.cfm (about halfway down...)

Thanks for the link!

I looked for it, didn't see it, so I asked the management(new owners) to please put it on their list of things to buy!! They are pretty good about things like that. I only drink Kava instant coffee because it has very little acidity. The owners got it for me, and keep it in stock now. Looking forward to trying this almond milk!! My husband used to buy the powdered coffee mate...can you have that on your diet?

What's worse--whole milk or coffee mate, which has soy? I actually like the powdered stuff in some weird way, but I don't know if it's too much soy for my thyroid.

My supermarket also carries stuff if you ask them--pretty cool. :)

I've been on low carb, zero carb and Carbohydrate Addicts diets. All of them allowed fat in the diet. You get less calories and carbs from cream, than you do from milk. Why can't you use half and half or cream? I never knew there was a correlation between soy and thyroid problems???!!! What affect does soy have on the thyroid? because I just bought some soy sauce to have with my chow mein tomorrow!

It's called the Metagenix diet because that's the company that outlines it and supplies the "medical food" (powdered drink that tastes like a milkshake--yum) that you have twice a day to start (for breakfast and an after dinner snack), then eventually once a day. The diet can be used for metabolic syndrome, high blood sugar, and one other similar illness I forget (they make a different drink for each). This time, however, I'm on their pill supplements instead of the drink--I'll have to see if they're as effective.

I would assume it's similar to other low-carb diets, although I haven't tried others. The servings of all the food are based on the number of calories your doctor determines you need to have per day. I'm on the lowest (1,300), but the weird thing is I am NEVER hungry. EVER. I have to eat constantly to fulfill my caloric intake for the day. To keep my metabolism on an even keel, I eat six small meals instead of three regular ones. I'm constantly grazing. (The last time I did this, several years ago, I was working full time, and I always had my bag FILLED with little containers of stuff I had to eat--too funny).

I have one serving of whole grains (usually one slice of whole-wheat toast with breakfast), two servings of protein, one serving of dairy, two servings of fruit (and those are big--1 1/2 cups), two servings of starchy veggies (although I tend to avoid corn--too much starch--and potatoes are RIGHT OUT) and unlimited servings of others (greens, etc.), one serving of nuts/seeds (I usually have raw almonds), and one serving of beans (also a big serving--half a cup). That's a lot to eat!

I have always been amused that I can have fat, like butter and cream (in moderation), but not carbs. It makes other people's heads explode, like my aunt, who thinks she's the diet authority--she won't serve me anything with fat in it, but pushes the bread basket at me nonstop. She actually cringes when she sees me put butter on something! Ahhh well, she's a control freak. I can ignore her (she says, trying to convince herself that she won't get a headache at auntie's Easter dinner tomorrow).

As for the soy--yeah, if you're hypothyroid, soy can slow the thyroid down even worse. But only raw soy (tofu, edamame beans, etc.), not fermented soy (which includes soy sauce). So your soy sauce is okay!

and "phew" regarding the soy sauce!!lol I can't eat chinese without it. According to my most recent bloodwork....my thyroid #'s were "normal" heh! I agree with you about the fats too. Our body needs fats or it can throw off the hormones. I have to laugh at folks who think they are doing a good thing by omitting certain fats from their diet to save calories and carbs!! Check out the labels on things and you'll see that "low fat" or "fat free" mayo, salad dressings etc. are much higher in carbs and calories!!! Plus they seem to cost more for some reason which fails me??? I agree also that it's a pain in the butt to have to eat a certain amount of food each day, whether I'm hungry or not, but it is beneficial to the metabolism. The easiest, most successful diet I've ever been on is the Carb. Addicts diet. I lost 70 lbs. on it within a years time, and maintained that weight following their maintenance program for 3 years, until I lost my husband. The only thing preventing me from going on it now, is that I would be wasting a lot of money on foods that I can't taste!!! I really am addicted to carbs though....big time!! Since I haven't been able to taste (last Sept.) I have gone from 220 lbs down to 180. I was 148 lbs. when he crossed over. Funny though...the orthopedic Dr. told me that if I lost weight, the pain in my back and knees would subside. If anything it's gotten worse. I'm going to see a new "ortho" soon, because I just didn't like the last one!

I'm doing all right so far--haven't caved to temptation yet--not ice cream when I bought some for MG Jr., not pizza last night, not the Doritos that the menfolk are chomping on right now. That weigh-in at my recent doctor's appointment scared me straight!
:scared:

So...you're saying the most effective diet is to lose your sense of taste? Yikers! Just kidding. It's got to be downright depressing not to be able to taste anything. Weight loss doesn't make up for that. I do hope your sense of taste comes back soon! :hug:

but now it's the only way I will drink it. I even gave up my iced cocoanut lattes last summer. Didn't (really) miss 'em.

I just can't stomach it.

Mmm...iced coconut lattes... :9 Wait! Wait! No! Bad for diet! Bad!
:rofl:

I did make myself a smoothie today (not in place of coffee)--strawberries, banana, almond milk, and shredded unsweetened coconut. It was darned good, and no high fructose corn syrup-laden flavored syrup. I'm looking forward to making another. Need to buy more fruit tomorrow.

for coffee as I drink tea in the morning.

I don't mind it for drinking, but it doesn't cut my coffee. Same with almond milk (which I also love to just drink).

My vote is most anything natural over most anything manufactured (which is what the non dairy creamer is).

This diet allows for VERY limited amounts of dairy. So my dilemma is what's worse--dairy or soy--at this point?