> > In a message dated 4/23/2007 8:57:05 PM Eastern Standard Time, > [log in to unmask] > writes: > > A friend says her thyroid is "dead". She did not have it removed but she > believes it is totally inactive. She takes medication, of course. Is > this enough info for an opinion on whether diet could help lower the > medication, or should I try to get more? > > I think that a good diet would be necessary, but not mainly for the thyroid. First, I assume your friend has had a complete history taken and a physical examination. During a physical examination she probably had serum T4 (the main hormone produced by the thyroid), free T3 (the biologically active thyroid hormone at the cellular level) and a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level done. Due to the relationship between the thyroid & iodine, yr. friend may want to have an iodine loading test done to see if her body is lacking iodine. She can read about the test & actually order one from information on this website: http://www.breastcancerchoices.org . Yes, the website is about breast cancer, but there appears to be a relationship between breast health & iodine and it is a good place to read about the iodine loading test. Hope this helps, Kath