Dear Group, I concurrently belong to another list which focuses on thyroid problems. I am currently hypothyroid, and have been since this winter, following my remission and recovery from Hodgkins Lymphoma and the subsequent radiation therapy on my chest and neck. I switched to a paleo diet as soon as I came out of the hospital in August, 99, at which time my thryoid function was normal. However, as the months progressed, my thryoid hormone levels have gone downhill - TSH went from 1.77 in August, 99 to 4.94 in January, to 9.74 in March, to 2.1 in April (began Herbs) to 4.74 in July,2000 (still on Herbs). The hospital range of normal is .3-4.7. I am controlling my thyroid levels with a prescribed formula of Chinese Herbs plus paleo. I take them 3X per day, and so far, so good. However, on the other thyroid list, there seems to be the opinion that the best diet to accompany any hypothyproid condition is low animal protein, and the standard grain, bean agenda. I am very confused by all the info out there, and by my blood levels. My doctor says that he could do 10 blood draws in a week from me, and each TSH reading can be different, so he wants me to focus more on symptoms - rapid heartbeat, lethargy, hair loss, weight gain, inability to take a deep breath, blurry vision, inablility to adjust to temperature flux. . I have experienced all of these symptoms in varying degrees on and off, but to a far lesser degree with the herbs. So, here's the question - does anyone with a Paleo & medical background haved any insight if the TSH is not responding to the paleo diet, or is the thyroid going downhill despite what I eat. Do any of you eat some grain with a paleo diet and notice any difference in your energy levels? I notice that when I eat meats, I naturally don't want any grain, but after too long eating low- medium carb paleo, I really seem to need a bowl of beans once in a while. Even if I eat starchier fruits. Low carb paleo seems to really excacerbate the hypothyroid symptoms. Even starchier "paleo correct foods" like carrots doesn't help me. However, if I eat some grain & veggie meal as an experiment, I don't want any animal protein at all and feel calmer. Why is this? My typical routine is: Breakfast: 4 ounces wild salmon cooked greens ( 1 cup) some starchy root (1/2 cup) sunflower seed yogurt or 1 TB cod liver oil 1 tomato with handful chopped dulse Lunch: 4 ounces chicken or tuna on a heap of salad greens 1/4 - 1/2 avocado more chopped dulse 1 tomato Snack: 1 apple with 1/2 cup raw almond butter Dinner: 4-8 ounces grass fed meat (lamb, bison, cow) or more fish ( halibut ) heap of organic salad olive oil & lemon dressing cooked spinach, or kale or whatever greens are ripe in the garden Snack: 1 banana with 3 tsp. raw organic almond butter or 1 mango with 1/2 cup coconut milk or 1 cup fresh blueberries with 3 tsp. almond butter My doc is sympathetic to alternative medicine, and is willing to prescribe Armour pig thyroid rather than Synthroid, if the herbs become ineffective. I, on the other hand, would like to avoid the whole scene, and wonder if anyone on this list has "saved" a sluggish thyroid with just diet alone. O.K., in my case factor in that my thryoid was bombarded for 20 days by radiation, despite a lead shield that was placed over the "attack" field to protect the thyroid ..... I feel best when my TSH is below 2, but my doc is happy as long as its in the 4-5 range. BTW, I eat sea vegetables and use Celtic Salt daily for iodine. My Chinese herbalist says that the thryoid is controlled by the adrenals, which are controlled by the kidneys. Strenghtening kidney weakness resulting from chemotherapy is the target of her formula determination for me. Sorry for the length of this message, but I figured the more information I gave you at the onset, the more comprehensive the replies. Thank you all in advance, Judy Genova, cavegirl