There is no one diet for hypothyroidism. When your thyroid gland doesn't produce an adequate amount of thyroid hormone, your cells can't produce enough energy and your metabolism slows down. Hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune reaction. Hypothyroidism can also be caused by a lack of iodine in your diet, radiation therapy to your neck and certain medications, such as lithium. The symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, constipation, fatigue, brittle hair and nails, intolerance to cold, depression and menstrual problems. Consult your doctor about which foods to avoid or add to your diet to help alleviate hypothyroidism symptoms.
Iodine And Hypothyroidism
You need iodine to produce thyroid hormone. Although rare in most developed nations, a deficiency of iodine in your diet can cause hypothyroidism. Most people in the United States get enough iodine by using iodized table salt. If your hypothyroidism is due to an iodine deficiency, add foods high in iodine to your diet or take an iodine supplement only if advised to by your physician. Foods containing iodine include cod, shrimp, tuna, turkey breast, baked potato with the skin, navy beans, milk and seaweed.
High-Fiber Foods
Hypothyroidism often causes constipation. Include high-fiber foods in your diet to help relieve and prevent constipation. Eat plenty of whole grains, such as high-fiber bran cereals, whole wheat breads and pastas, brown rice and barley. Add fiber-containing vegetables, including peas, sweet potato with the skin and raw carrots to your diet, along with fruits, such as apples, pears, prunes, blueberries and strawberries. Include almonds, steel-cut oatmeal, air-popped popcorn and graham crackers in your diet as well.
Low-Fat, Low-Calorie Diet
Because your metabolism slows down, you can gain weight with an underactive thyroid gland. Help keep your weight stable, or lose weight if you need to, by following a low-fat, low-calorie diet. Make some food substitutions to shave calories and fat from your diet to keep your normal weight. Substitute low-fat or reduced fat milk for whole milk, ground turkey for ground beef, egg whites for whole eggs, low-fat frozen yogurt or sorbet for ice cream and plain low-fat yogurt for sour cream. Use water-packed tuna instead of oil-packed tuna, angel food cake instead of pound cake, saltines instead of party crackers and all-fruit jelly or jam on toast instead of butter.
Foods To Avoid
If you take synthetic thyroid medication, such as levothyroxine, for hypothyroidism, you may need to avoid certain foods that interfere with its absorption. Although more study is needed, it appears soy products, walnuts and cottonseed meal interfere with the absorption of synthetic thyroid medications and shouldn't be eaten at the same time you take the medication. The University of Maryland Medical Center states there also some foods that interfere with your thyroid function. If you have hypothyroidism, ask your doctor if you should avoid broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, turnips, spinach, cassava, pine nuts and mustard greens.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hypothyroidism; Steven D. Ehrlich; March 31, 2010
- N.Y.U Langone Medical Center: Hypothyroidism
- Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute: Iodine; Jane Higdon; April 2003
- Drugs.com: High-Fiber Diet
- National Lung Heart and Blood Institute:Low-Calorie, Lower Fat Alternative Foods
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