# Is Protein Good for Hypothyroidism?

By Dr. Benedicte Lerche · Nutrition

> Why protein is essential for thyroid function — how a low-protein diet impairs liver function, reduces T4 to T3 conversion, and contributes to hypothyroid symptoms.

## Is Protein Good For Hypothyroidism?

Low protein intake is often contributing to hypothyroidism and hormonal disturbances. A protein-rich diet is extremely important for healthy thyroid function and hormonal balance. Your diet plays a huge role in your metabolic rate, and different types of diets can significantly affect your thyroid function either positively or negatively. My [Metabolic Food Mastery™](/courses/metabolic-food-mastery) course explains my thyroid promoting diet advice in detail.

## Does Protein Affect Thyroid Function?

The thyroid gland produces two hormones — two thirds is T4 and one third is T3. T3 is the active thyroid hormone that controls cellular energy production, and T4 is a storage hormone which is turned into the active thyroid hormone T3 in the body tissues, primarily the liver. Therefore the liver is an essential organ for thyroid function on the cellular level.

A good diet is necessary for a healthy liver, and a protein deficiency significantly reduces liver function and its ability to activate the thyroid hormone.

According to [Dr. Ray Peat](/blog/who-is-dr-ray-peat), many people become hypothyroid because they continuously follow a protein-deficient diet, having only around 40 grams of protein daily, which is not enough. Generally, it is important to use a high protein diet daily in order to support liver and thyroid function. It is also important that the protein sources come from high-quality foods that support cellular energy production.

Importantly, many protein sources that are promoted as healthy foods are not suitable in a thyroid supportive lifestyle as they directly suppress thyroid function.

In order for you to get enough high-quality protein into your daily diet, my [How to Boost Metabolism with Food](/books/how-to-boost-metabolism-with-food) book includes a protein guide that helps you understand how much protein you need per day to keep your liver and hormonal balance healthy, what high-quality protein sources support thyroid function, and the protein content of different food sources.

## What Lifestyle Changes Can Help Hypothyroidism?

My hypothyroid treatment method is based on the research of Dr. Ray Peat, a leading expert on the interaction between lifestyle, nutrition, and hormones. If you are not yet familiar with the research of Dr. Ray Peat and want to overcome hypothyroidism and hormonal imbalances, my [Metabolic Food Mastery™](/courses/metabolic-food-mastery) course and [Thyroid Optimization™](/courses/thyroid-optimization) course go through all my diet and lifestyle recommendations for supporting thyroid function.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why is protein so important for thyroid function?

The thyroid gland produces two hormones two-third is T4 and one-third is T3. T3 is the active thyroid hormone that controls cellular energy production and T4 is a storage hormone, which is turned into the active thyroid hormone T3 in the body tissues, primarily the liver. Therefore the liver is an essential organ for thyroid function on the cellular level.

### How much protein do I need on a thyroid-supporting diet?

According to Dr. Ray Peat, many people become hypothyroid because they continuously are on a protein-deficient diet, having only around 40 grams of protein daily, which is not enough. Generally, it is important to use a high protein diet daily in order to support liver and thyroid function. It is also important that the protein sources come from high-quality foods that support cellular energy production.

The protein guide teaches you about how much protein you need per day to keep your liver and hormonal balance healthy, what high-quality protein sources support thyroid function as well as the protein content of the different food sources.

### Which protein sources are best for thyroid health?

Importantly many protein sources that are promoted as healthy foods are not suitable in a thyroid supportive lifestyle as they directly suppress thyroid function.

**Tags:** hypothyroidism, protein, pro-metabolic diet, gelatin, thyroid nutrition

Source: https://biochemnordic.com/blog/hypothyroidism-protein