Hypothyroidism is a disorder that occurs when your body has low levels of thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is part of your endocrine system which coordinates many of your body's activities. People with inactive, or underactive, thyroids often gain weight and feel lethargic. The treatment for low thyroid levels is replacement of thyroid hormone with synthetic thyroid hormone. Various foods affect the absorption of thyroid hormone and therefore should be removed from the diets of patients with inactive thyroid.
Synthetic Thyroid Hormone
According to MayoClinic.com the main therapy for thyroid hormone deficiency is replacement of the hormone with synthetic hormone. Usually patients take a daily dose of the synthetic hormone known as levothyroxine. Once patients have been on this treatment for a while, they begin to feel more energetic and may shed some of the pounds they gained due to their disorder.
Foods to Avoid
Several foods make the absorption of levothyroxine less effective. Patients with large amounts of soy in their diet are advised to consult their physicians about how this can affect their thyroid hormone levels. According to Thyroid Info, having a high fiber diet can reduce your ability to absorb medication. This means that you should try to keep the fiber in your diet consistent so that your hormone absorption is consistent.
Medications to Avoid
Taking thyroid hormone along with a calcium supplement can reduce the efficacy of thyroid hormone. Therefore, calcium should be taken at least 4 to 12 hours apart from thyroid hormone. You should also consult your physician if you are taking iron supplements, cholestyramine, aluminum hydroxide, sodium polystyrene and/or sucralfate.
When to Eat
The level of food in your stomach affects your ability to absorb thyroid hormone. It is best to take thyroid hormone on an empty stomach to get the fastest, most potent response. This means you should not eat until one hour after taking your daily dose of thyroid hormone.
Foods with Thryroid Benefits
Several foods are noted by Underactive Thyroid Diet due to their potential thyroid benefits. These include strawberries and blueberries that may promote healthy thyroid function. Yogurt is also suggested. However, before increasing your consumption of any of these foods you should confer with your physician.
