Your thyroid gland produces hormones important for healthy energy levels, metabolism, body temperature and moods. If you have hypothyroidism, your thyroid produces too few hormones, posing risks for weight gain, depression, constipation, menstrual irregularities and, if left untreated, serious complications. Hypothyroidism is not caused by foods, but by autoimmune diseases, certain medications and medical treatments, such as radiation therapy. In addition to medical treatment, a healthy diet, limited in certain foods, might help manage your symptoms.
Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables play an important role in most healthy diets, including those aimed at managing hypothyroidism. Particular varieties, however, might interfere with thyroid function, including spinach, kale, turnips, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cassava and mustard greens. Because antioxidant and fiber-rich foods might improve your symptoms, incorporate plentiful thyroid-friendly varieties, such as berries, tomatoes, bell peppers and squash, into your diet routinely.
Soybeans
Soybeans are a protein-rich legume variety that contains isoflavones -- substances that might produce estrogen-like effects. Although beneficial for many people without thyroid disease, isoflavones block the activity of thyroid enzymes and can impair thyroid function, according to dietitian and contributing writer for "Today's Dietitian" Jennifer Sisk, potentially leading to weight gain. To avoid these risks, limit or avoid fresh and canned soybeans, soy "nuts," tofu -- or soybean curd -- and soy-based milk, yogurt, meat substitutes, protein powders and cheeses.
Enriched Flour
Enriched flour is derived from whole grains, but contains significantly less vitamin, mineral and fiber content. A fiber-rich diet, containing 20 to 35 g per day, is a valuable way to prevent constipation, which might accompany hypothyroidism. Fiber-rich foods might also help soften stools once you're constipated. To maintain high fiber intake, replace enriched breads, pasta, cereal and snack foods with whole grains, such as brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, barley, oats and popcorn.
Fatty Meats
Fatty meats, such as bacon, sausage, organ meats, hot dogs and steak, contain rich amounts of saturated fat -- a fat linked with high blood pressure and obesity. Saturated fat also increases the cholesterol content in your bloodstream, a condition you might be at high risk for if hypothyroidism has stimulated weight gain, according to Sara Rosenthal, bioethicist and director of the University of Kentucky Program for Bioethics, in "The Thyroid Sourcebook." Saturated fats might also increase inflammation. For heightened benefits, choose omega-3 fatty acid sources -- such as salmon, herring, mackerel or halibut, which might reduce inflammation -- instead of fatty meats regularly.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hypothyroidism
- "Today's Dietitian"; "Thyroid Disease in Women -- Diagnostic Conundrum"; Jennifer Sisk; October 2004
- MayoClinic.com: Constipation Prevention
- "The Thyroid Sourcebook"; M. Sara Rosenthal; 2002
