If you have an underactive thyroid gland, your doctor might diagnose you with hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition involving an inadequate production of hormones from your thyroid gland. Certain dietary changes may help in treating an underactive thyroid, but you should discuss them with your physician before altering the foods you eat.
Avoid
In some cases, your doctor may recommend you avoid eating high-fat and high-calorie foods to control your body weight, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Hypothyroidism can cause weight gain, and if you're obese or overweight, losing weight can help in treating an underactive thyroid. Certain foods can actually harm your thyroid gland's function as well. These include vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, turnips, mustard greens, cassava and spinach, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Pine nuts, peanuts, soybeans and millet, as well as sweet potatoes, lima beans, corn and canola oil made from rapeseed, could also interfere with your thyroid-hormone production. These foods contain chemicals known as goitrogens, which stimulate enlargement of your thyroid gland, explains the University of Michigan Health System.
Add
Hypothyroidism can cause constipation, so enriching your diet with high-fiber foods can help ease this symptom, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Choosing low-fat and low-calorie foods can help to keep your weight in check as well. Increase the amount of antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries, bell peppers and tomatoes in your diet to help treat an underactive thyroid gland, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Eat more fresh and sea vegetables, as well as whole grains, in your diet to get more iron and B-complex vitamins, which can help treat hypothyroidism.
Key Nutrients
Certain nutrients are especially important if you have an underactive thyroid. If your hypothyroidism occurs due to an iodine deficiency, you might need to take a supplement, says the University of Michigan Health System. Supplementation of selenium, zinc, thyroid extract and vitamins A and B3 may also help treat an underactive thyroid gland. You could take supplements of L-tyrosine or omega-3 fatty acids as well, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Because some of these nutritional supplements can interfere with common medications prescribed for hypothyroidism, don't take them without consulting your physician first.
Considerations
Cooking will eradicate the goitrogens in certain foods like Brussels sprouts, making them safe to eat if you have an underactive thyroid, says the University of Michigan Health System. Discuss goitrogen-containing foods with a registered dietitian or your health care provider before completely eliminating all of them from your diet. In addition to certain foods, also avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco, because these can worsen your thyroid problems and potentially interact negatively with certain medications, cautions the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Warning
If you're taking thyroid-hormone medications, don't take iron supplements or eat soy before first talking with your doctor, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Iron supplements and soy products may inhibit your body's absorption of the thyroid hormones. Also, don't take omega-3 fatty acid supplements like fish oil if you're also taking blood-thinning drugs like Coumadin, because doing so can increase your bleeding risks. L-tyrosine supplements can be dangerous for people with mania and hypertension. Don't take iodine supplements unless your thyroid problem is specifically caused by an iodine deficiency, because too much iodine can also cause thyroid dysfunction, cautions the University of Michigan Health System.
