Your thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate your metabolism. While a healthy thyroid gland functions properly regardless of what you eat, roughly 20 million Americans have a thyroid disorder that complicates dietary matters, according to a "Today's Dietitian" article published in October 2004. Learning more about the link between foods and thyroid function may inspire you to make wise dietary decisions. For best results, seek guidance from your doctor or dietitian before changing your diet.
Function
An underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, can cause weight gain, depressive moods, constipation and lethargy. An overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, causes nearly opposite effects, such as weight loss, anxiety and insomnia. If you have a thyroid disease, you need proper medical treatment, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Although dietary changes should not come before or replace conventional care, they can help minimize your symptoms and lower your risk for complications, such as undesirable weight gain.
Problem Foods
Natural substances in various foods, known as goitrogens, inhibit thyroid hormone production. A healthy person's thyroid makes up for this deficiency by producing more hormones. If you have hypothyroidism, goitrogenic foods can worsen your symptoms and make way for weight gain, according to Patricia Vasconcellos, a registered dietitian at Falmouth Hospital in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In an interview with "Today's Dietitian," Vasconcellos recommended that people with thyroid conditions limit goitrogen sources, including Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, peaches, strawberries, millet, pine nuts, radishes, spinach and soy. To minimize weight gain, avoid high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, such as sugary sweets, fried foods and refined grains, such as white flour. Caffeine can also interfere with thyroid function and increase symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as shakiness and insomnia.
Helpful Foods
Fortunately, a wide variety of foods can reduce thyroid disease symptoms while enhancing your overall wellness. The UMMC recommends emphasizing foods rich in antioxidants, B-vitamins and iron for improved symptoms. Top sources of antioxidants include blueberries, bell peppers, squash and tomatoes. For iron and B vitamins, consume whole grains, seaweed and fresh vegetables. For reduced constipation, consume more fiber-rich foods, such as lentils, split peas, raspberries, oats, barley and artichokes. Fiber also promotes appetite control, which can ease the process of weight management. For omega-3 fatty acids -- healthy fats with anti-inflammatory properties -- consume cold-water fish, such as salmon, halibut and mackerel.
Food Preparation
The way that you prepare your foods can also influence thyroid health. The UMMC recommends cooking foods with healthy oils, such as canola or olive oil, and avoiding less-healthy ingredients, such as stick margarine. Because avoiding refined foods can improve thyroid disease symptoms, prepare baked goods with whole-grain flours or oats instead of white or pastry flour. Apple sauce and stevia, an herbal sweetener, provide natural alternatives to sugar. For added wellness benefits, choose baked, steamed, broiled, poached and grilled foods over fried dishes.
