If you have hypothyroidism, your thyroid produces too few hormones, which play an important role in your energy, metabolism and moods. As a result, you may experience lethargy, weight gain, constipation, sleep difficulty and depression. In addition to medical treatment, a healthy diet may help reduce your symptoms. For best results, discuss significant dietary changes with your doctor or dietitian before making them.
Function
An appropriate diet for hypothyroidism emphasizes foods and nutrients that promote your overall health and limits foods that may interfere with thyroid function or worsen your symptoms. Managing your glycemic stress, or the level of impact your diet has on your blood sugar, may restore healthy thyroid levels, according to women's health expert Dr. Christiane Northrup. Thus, swapping high-glycemic foods out for low-glycemic options may also improve your symptoms, particularly food cravings, mood swings and weight gain.
Optimum Foods
Many foods suit a hypothyroidism diet. Antioxidant-rich foods, such as berries, tomatoes, bell peppers and squash, may improve your symptoms, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Whole grains, such as oats, brown rice, wild rice, whole wheat, barley and popcorn, are low-glycemic and valuable sources of B vitamins -- nutrients that support healthy metabolism and energy levels. Fatty fish, such as salmon, albacore tuna, halibut, lake trout, flounder and mackerel, provide protein, which also promotes blood sugar balance, and omega-3 fatty acids, which may reduce inflammation and strengthen your immune system. Other healthy fat sources include nuts, seeds, avocados and vegetable oils such as canola and olive oil. Lean poultry, low-fat dairy products, legumes and egg whites are additional heart-healthy protein options.
Foods to Avoid
In some cases, food intolerances coincide with thyroid disease. According to a "Today's Dietitian" article published in Nov. 2010, numerous cases of celiac disease and intolerance to gluten -- a storage protein in wheat, rye and barley, have been linked with thyroid disease. If gluten-containing foods seem to trigger or worsen your symptoms, avoiding commercially-prepared breads and other foods that list enriched flour, wheat products or gluten as an ingredient may prove helpful. For best results, seek your doctor's guidance before eliminating gluten. Foods that may interfere with thyroid function include leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage and broccoli, and soy, when consumed in excess. Foods that may disrupt your blood sugar, moods and energy levels include enriched breads, cereals and pasta, instant rice and sugary sweets. Coffee, energy drinks and regular soft drinks may pose similar effects. Fatty foods, such as red meat, high-fat dairy products and fried foods, may increase your risk for weight gain and heart disease.
Dietary Supplements
If you have difficulty meeting your nutritional needs through food alone, your doctor or dietitian may suggest dietary supplements. Potentially helpful supplements, according to the UMMC, include omega-3 fatty acids and L-tyrosine, which your body uses to produce hormones. Iodine supplements may help if you have a deficiency, which is sometimes linked with thyroid disease. Since supplements may interact with medications and cause side effects, take them with your doctor's pre-approval.
References
- Dr. Northrup: Thyroid Disease
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Hypothyroidism; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; March 31, 2010
- "Today's Dietitian"; Two of a Kind -- Research Connects Celiac and Thyroid Diseases and Suggests a Gluten-Free Diet Benefits Both; Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD, Gary Kaplan, DO; Nov. 2010
