Your thyroid, which sits in the front of your neck, produces hormones that regulate your metabolism. When an under-active thyroid fails to secrete an adequate supply of of thyroid hormone, your metabolism slows down, and you experience extreme sensitivity to cold. Doctors call this condition hypothyroidism. Dietary modification does not cure hypothyroidism, but adding certain foods to your diet may minimize your symptoms.
Iodine Deficiency
The non-metallic trace element called iodine controls thyroid hormone synthesis. It is an essential component of the T3 and T4 thyroid hormones. The ocean supplies most of the world's iodine, but iodine-rich soil varies according to region, according to nutrition specialists at the Linus Pauling Institute at the University of Oregon. Mountainous regions and flooded river valleys suffer from severe iodine deficiency. As a result, more than 30 percent of the world's population consumes inadequate daily intake of iodine, says the World Health Organization. Iodine deficiency is one of the key causes of hypothyroidism.
Breakfast
Despite warnings about excess salt consumption, iodized salt is one of the best sources of iodine. If high blood pressure causes you to reduce your salt intake but you also suffer from hypothyroidism, ask your doctor about suitable alternatives. Otherwise, a breakfast consisting of a boiled egg, which has a high iodine content, with a drop of iodized salt helps you wake up your thyroid at the start of your day. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends foods rich in B vitamins for normalizing your thyroid. Whole grains, found in whole-grain bread or toast, have a high vitamin B content.
Lunch
Rev up your midday thyroid hormones by enjoying a tuna or turkey sandwich on whole-grain bread for lunch. Since antioxidants play a key role in thyroid function, add some bell peppers or tomatoes to your sandwich, and have a cup of blueberries or cherries for desert. A glass of whole milk adds to the iodine content of your meal. Vegetables such as spinach, Brussels sprouts, kale and turnip may interfere with thyroid function and should be eaten in minimal quantities, says the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Dinner
Foods such as cod and shrimp have a high iodine content and make a healthy dinner choice for people with under-active thyroids. Serve with complex carbohydrates such as brown rice or whole-grain pasta. Aside from their high vitamin B content, complex carbohydrates provide an efficient energy source, which may counteract the low energy that characterizes an under-active thyroid condition. Seaweed salad, composed of high-iodine kelp, adds an extra boost to your thyroid.
