Graves Disease Treatment: How Diet Changed Everything for Ella

Key wellness/self-care strategies & takeaways (from Ella’s Graves disease story)

1) Adopt a low-carb approach (starting with keto) for thyroid hormone balance

• Ella frames Graves disease/hyperthyroidism as part of a hormone “spectrum.”
• She credits low-carb/keto with bringing her thyroid levels to normal and eliminating symptoms.

2) Cut out common high-blood-sugar triggers

• She links soda to “Graves attacks” and panic-like episodes.
• At first, she removed fruit and grains, while continuing to eat vegetables.

3) Use consistent follow-up/testing to track progress

• She reports getting thyroid labs every two weeks initially.
• Over time, she saw her thyroid levels gradually come down.

4) Stay motivated with a mindset shift

Ella emphasizes motivation and perspective, including:

• A strong drive to want to get better
• Viewing “who you were before vs. who you are now”
• Pride-making: feeling better, symptom-free, and in control

5) Treat “off-plan” foods as symptom triggers

• When she temporarily increases carbs, her symptoms return.
• She believes labs would likely rise again if she returned to a higher-carb pattern.

6) Improve daily functioning and social life through symptom control

• Before low-carb, she avoided social plans due to fear of attacks.
• After low-carb, she experienced:
  • Less anxiety about symptoms
  • Less “FOMO”
  • More confidence to eat out with friends using low-carb options

7) Plan “what to eat” to reduce fear and build confidence

• She uses practical planning tools (like a grocery list) to reinforce that there are many meal options within carnivore/low-carb.
• Options include various meats and seafood; depending on tolerance, she notes dairy may also be included.

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Productivity/mindset elements implied

• Use measurable milestones: “levels normalized” and “symptoms disappeared” as evidence the approach works.
• Build identity around the plan: she describes eating this way as part of her personality and her baseline energy.

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Presenters or sources

• Ella Ludwig — main presenter; shared her personal experience with Graves disease and living with type 1 diabetes
• Adam — host; “carnivore today”
• Mentioned (not as speakers in the main dialogue):
  • Justin (from “Team type 1”)