In choosing the best foods to support the functioning of your thyroid gland, it is imperative to limit your intake of foods high in goitrogens that decrease thyroid functioning in favor of foods that help the thyroid gland. These are foods high in B vitamins and iron, fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, seaweed, lean meats, fish, beans, olive oil and vegetable oil.
Foods High in B Vitamins and Iron
Foods high in B vitamins help the thyroid gland, such as liver, turkey, beef, Brazil nuts, potatoes, lentils, black-eyed peas and kefir. Fresh vegetables high in iron content also support the thyroid. These include beets, turnip greens and parsley.
Whole grains also aid the thyroid, such as buckwheat, brown rice, barley, millet, popcorn, wild rice, oats and those found in whole-wheat bread and pastas.
Eating sea vegetables such as seaweed is advised by Edward Bauman, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Nutrition at the University of Natural Medicine in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He recommends dulse, a northern Atlantic seaweed for thyroid support. A healthy dessert can be made with sodium alginate, a thickener that contains kelp, and coconut and pineapple juice.
Fruits and Vegetables High in Antioxidants
Problems with the thyroid are often caused by free radicals. Foods high in antioxidants help ensure free radicals do not damage thyroid hormones, on which all bodily functions depend.
For a healthy thyroid eat fresh fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, such as blueberries, tomatoes, cherries, squash and bell peppers.
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, rapeseed, mustard greens, collards, rutabaga, turnips, kohlrabi and Brussels sprouts can have a goitrogenic effect. Although they are healthy foods in many other respects, they contain certain chemicals that may hinder the thyroid from functioning properly. When eaten in excess, these foods can even decrease thyroid hormone absorption. However, when eaten steamed or cooked, rather than raw, this goitrogenic effect is lessened or eliminated.
Lean Meats, Beans and Fish
Lean meats, cold water fish, flaxseed and beans all provide protein and help maintain the health of the thyroid. Organic meats in particular are good choices because they do not contain certain steroids and hormones that can offset the body's own natural production of thyroid hormone.
Omega-3 fatty acids are important to the thyroid. Tuna and salmon are good sources if they are ocean fish and not farm-raised. Fish need to eat algae to produce Omega-3 fatty acids.
Flax seeds help the thyroid and can be ground in a coffee grinder and sprinkled on cereal, salads and in soups. Add ground flax seeds to food after, not before, cooking.
Olive Oil and Vegetable Oil
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the choice of healthy cooking oils favors the thyroid. Olive oil and vegetable oils are good choices.
MayoClinic.com refutes attributing the source of canola oil to the goitrogen rapeseed. It reports that canola oil is produced from canola plants, not rapeseed plants and is therefore thyroid-healthy.
Before choosing any of these foods, if you have a thyroid condition always consult your physician for dietary advice.
Member Comments