Keeping a chart for 14 days of both temperature (taken orally, under the tongue) and pulse rate measured before and after breakfast will give a good impression of the metabolic rate, as well as the stress hormones. You can find tables to note down your measurements below.
It is important that the breakfast contains protein, salt, and good carbohydrates in order for the stress hormones to come down; it could be eggs with salt and orange juice or cheese with fruits.
It is good to wait about 20 minutes after breakfast to take them after breakfast measurements. Normally, the temperature and pulse rate will increase when eating breakfast to values of about 98.6°F (37 °C) and 80-85 beats per minute respectively. These values indicate good thyroid function and should stay stable during the day.
Hot weather or sleeping under an electric blanket increases the body temperature towards normal in a hypothyroid person, thus in these situations, the temperature is not valid and the pulse rate is the important factor in determining the thyroid function.
If some form of thyroid medication is used, this temperature and pulse method is a good way to evaluate the effect of the medication. You can read more about thyroid replacement therapy in Module 16 of BiochemNordic’s health program.