Part of the body's endocrine system, the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is located in the neck, just above the collarbone. The thyroid produces hormones that regulate the body's metabolism, the transformation of the food you consume into energy your body needs to function. Thyroid disorders affect millions of Americans, the majority of them women. Common forms of thyroid dysfunction are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism; thyroid cancer, though less common, also affects thyroid function.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone, resulting in a slowdown in metabolism. Early signs of this condition include fatigue, sensitivity to cold, constipation, depression, unwanted weight gain, joint and/or muscle pain, and thin, brittle hair and fingernails. In an article for MayoClinic.com, Dr. Todd B. Nippoldt notes that there is no dietary cure for underactive thyroid, which must be treated with synthetic thyroid hormone. However, certain foods can reduce the severity of the disorder's symptoms.
Mary J. Shomon, author of "Living Well with Hypothyroidism," offers some simple dietary recommendations. Eat breakfast to jump-start the day's metabolic processes. Don't starve yourself, because this will reduce your energy levels and further slow your metabolism. Drink at least eight, 8-oz. glasses of water daily to prevent dehydration and the fatigue that it can cause. Because hypothyroidism also can cause an increase in blood levels of low-density lipoprotein, the so-called bad cholesterol, opt for unsaturated--preferably monounsaturated--fats over foods high in saturated fats and trans fatty acids.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism, the polar opposite of hypothyroidism, exists when the thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormone, causing a sharp increase in the body's metabolic rate. Symptoms include sudden unwanted weight loss, irritability, nervousness, rapid or irregular heartbeat and excessive perspiration. Because the condition accelerates all body processes and interferes with the absorption of nutrients, it is critical to follow a diet rich in all nutrients, according to John D. Kirschmann, author of "Nutrition Almanac." He recommends eating a wide variety of whole foods, adding extra protein to replace any muscle tissue that may have been lost.
Thyroid Cancer
The National Cancer Institute estimates that about 33,000 Americans--25,000 women and 8,000 men--are diagnosed with thyroid cancer each year. Symptoms of this form of cancer include a lump in the front of the neck, difficulty in breathing and/or swallowing, hoarseness, unrelieved pain in the throat or neck and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. The dietary guidelines for this thyroid disorder are similar to those for other forms of cancer and call for increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, avoidance of animal fat and the substitution of plant-based food for animal products whenever possible, according to NutritionMD. Additionally, doctors treating thyroid cancer patients routinely put them on low-iodine diets for one to two weeks before--and one to two days after--testing with radioiodine.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Hypothyroidism--Underactive Thyroid
- "Living Well with Hypothyroidism"; Mary J. Shomon; 2005
- "Nutrition Almanac"; John D. Kirschmann; 2006
- National Cancer Institute: What You Need to Know About Thyroid Cancer
- NutritionMD: Thyroid Cancer: Nutritional Considerations
