Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland in your neck makes an excess amount of the hormone thyroxine; this may speed up your metabolism, resulting in sudden weight loss, irritability and rapid heartbeat. Traditional treatment includes anti-thyroid medications to suppress excess hormone production or surgery. However, diet may also affect your experience with hyperthyroidism. Mangoes may be beneficial for hyperthyroidism due to their vitamin and mineral content.
Diet
Hyperthyroidism can cause significant weight loss because when your metabolism speeds up, you burn more calories. Thyroid treatment slows down the metabolism, which may contribute to significant weight gain. Therefore, it is important for people with hyperthyroidism to eat foods that are rich in nutrients but not in calories, according to MayoClinic.com. Your doctor can assist you in modifying your diet to include healthy foods and possibly supplements. Mangoes are low in calories and are a rich source of nutrients beneficial for people with hyperthyroidism.
Vitamin E
Foods rich in vitamin E are beneficial for keeping your thyroid healthy, according to complementary and alternative medicine website WholeHealthMD. A single mango without the peel contains around 2.3 milligrams of vitamin E. Vitamin E may also play a protective role in a hyperthyroid heart, according to a study published in "The Journal of Experimental Biology" in March 1997. The study involved rats with hyperthyroidism; human research is still needed.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6 is important for healthy thyroid function. A true deficiency in vitamin B-6 is rare, according to the Merck Manual website. However, a mild deficiency is common, MayoClinic.com notes. Hyperthyroidism sometimes causes a deficiency in vitamin B-6. Eating mangoes may help because they are one of the leading sources of vitamin B-6. A mango has around 0.2 milligrams of vitamin B-6. Adults up to 50 years of age require around 1.3 milligrams of vitamin B-6 daily. Older adults need about 1.5 to 1.7 milligrams.
Calcium
Hyperthyroidism may contribute to a loss of bone density. Calcium helps you build strong bones and lessens your chances of developing osteoporosis, which is a condition characterized by thinning bones. MayoClinic.com recommends that people with hyperthyroidism get sufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D daily. Mangoes contain significant amounts of important minerals like calcium; one mango contains around 21 milligrams of calcium. Women aged 19 to 50 and men aged 19 to 70 need around 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily. Women over 50 and men over 70 need around 1,200 milligrams.
References
- WholeHealthMD.com: Food Remedies
- MayoClinic.com: Vitamin B6 -- Pyridoxine
- Merck Manual: Vitamin B6
- The Journal of Experimental Biology: Vitamin E Administration Attenuates the Tri-Iodothyronine-Induced Modification of Heart Electrical Activity in the Rat
- MayoClinic.com: Hyperthyroidism -- Overactive Thyroid
- Dr. Decuypere: Dr. Decuypere's Nutrient Charts -- Fruit Chart
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin E
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hyperthyroidism -- Prevention
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