Your thyroid is a hormone-secreting gland that controls energy use and storage, meaning a thyroid determines your basic metabolic rate. Every organ system in your body is regulated to some degree by your thyroid---even your resting body temperature is controlled by thyroid hormones. A thyroid-healthy diet can help you keep your thyroid, and you, in great shape for years to come.
The Importance of Iodine
Your thyroid needs iodine to manufacture thyroid hormones and also uses iodine in the hormone receptors. Needless to say, if there isn't enough iodine your thyroid is the first to suffer. In fact, when severe iodine deficiency is present an enlargement called a goiter will develop. There are many ideal dietary sources of iodine, especially from sea vegetables and sea foods. Other sources include yogurt, garlic, asparagus, spinach and swiss chard.
Avoid Foods That Block Iodine Uptake
Some foods are known to block your body's ability to absorb iodine, especially when eaten in large amounts and when eaten raw. These foods include brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and other members of the brassica family of vegetables---also peaches, turnips, pears and spinach. This doesn't mean that these fruits or vegetables are bad for you, they all have many health benefits. It simply means that they are better cooked and consumed with moderation if you have a thyroid condition.
Lower Your Glycemic Index
The glycemic index of foods is a way of measuring how fast that food converts to sugar in your body. For example, table sugar has a glycemic index of 100 because it is already sugar so your body doesn't need to do anything to convert it. Butter has a glycemic index of 0 because your body is unlikely to convert it to sugar. A low glycemic diet, which means eating foods that have a glycemic index of 50 or below, can help to normalize thyroid function because abnormal thyroid function and a condition called insulin resistance, or pre-diabetes, often go hand in hand. Essentially this boils down to a low sugar, low carbohydrate, high protein, moderate fat diet.
Support Your Selenium
Selenium deficiency has been linked to low thyroid function as well as cancer, so finding good food sources of selenium is beneficial. Selenium is found in brazil nuts, button mushrooms, barley, shrimp, lamb, cod and calf's liver.
Add Zinc Into Your Diet
Zinc works together with iodine to help the production of thyroid hormone as well as the conversion to its active form. Zinc is also important for the thyroid hormone receptors as well as the signals that tell the thyroid when to work. Food sources of zinc include oysters; meats such as beef, pork, chicken, crab and lobster; legumes including chick peas, kidney beans and black beans.
