Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that increases thyroid hormone production, speeding up your heart rate and metabolism. Although it is not caused by your diet, some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism can be managed with dietary changes. Because thyroid hormones control your metabolism, Graves' disease can cause weight loss. You may need to consume more calories until treatment begins to slow your thyroid hormone production. If you have surgery or radioactive iodine treatment, you may develop hypothyroidism and need to take supplemental thyroid hormone for the rest of your life.
Graves' Disease, Metabolism and Weight
Graves' disease speeds your metabolism and can cause weight loss. You may need to consume extra calories until you and your doctor decide on the best course of action -- anti-thyroid medication, surgery or radioactive iodine. Both surgery and radioactive iodine stop all hormone production and will drastically slow your metabolism. Consuming the same number of calories before and after treatment will result in weight gain, until you find the correct dose of hormone replacement supplementation. Once you're taking an adequate amount of supplemental hormones, your metabolism -- and weight -- should balance out.
Iodine
Although excess iodine in your diet does not cause Graves' disease, reducing iodine intake can help manage some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Avoid large quantities of both iodized and sea salt, and talk to your doctor about limiting consumption of fish and seafood, sea vegetables, eggs and dairy products. As you treat your Graves' disease and move from hyper to hypothyroid, you may need to increase your iodine intake. Iodine is an essential element for thyroid hormone production.
Calcium and Vitamin D
The Mayo Clinic says that hyperthyroidism can contribute to thinning bones and may eventually cause osteoporosis. Ensuring adequate intake of both calcium and vitamin D will help keep bones strong. Most women need at least 1,000 mg of calcium daily, until age 51 and then calcium needs increase to 1,200 mg daily. Adults need to get 600 IUs daily of vitamin D, until age 70, then vitamin D needs increase yo 800 IUs. Dairy products, fortified cereals, sardines and soybeans all contain more than 250 mg of calcium per serving. Vitamin D can be gotten from sun exposure or supplements,a s very few foods are naturally rich in vitamin D. The best food sources of vitamin D are fatty fish, both fish and beef liver and egg yolks.
Foods and Thyroid Mediciation
Certain foods can interfere with the absorption of your thyroid medication. Although they do not need to be eliminated form your diet, it's important to take your medication as directed, usually on an empty stomach, one hour before eating or two to three hours after eating. Do not eat walnuts, iron-rich foods, high-fiber foods, cottonseed meal or soybean flour within several hours of taking your thyroid medication, warns the Mayo Clinic. Also, avoid taking other medications or supplements that contain iron, calcium, aluminum or magnesium with your thyroid medication.
References
- Medline Plus; Grave DIsease; Ari S. Eckman, MD; April 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Hyperthyroidism -- Lifestyle and Home Remedies; December 2010
- Women's Health; Graves Disease Fact Sheet; David S. Cooper, M.D.; May 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Hypothyroidism Diet: Can Certain Foods Increase Thyroid Function?; Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D.; November 2010
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