If you've been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), or suspect you may have the disorder because of certain symptoms such as fatigue, thinning hair or dry skin, changing your diet is a possible remedy. Although the practice is generally not recognized by conventional medicine as effective, alternative health care practitioners sometimes recommend eating certain foods to support thyroid function.
Vitamin A
A diet to support thyroid function should consist of at least 50 percent fresh organic foods, according to NaturalWays.com. The website particularly recommends foods rich in vitamin A, which includes yellow and green vegetables such as alfalfa sprouts, carrots, green peppers, beet greens, spinach, Swiss chard and other dark green leafy vegetables. Include raw vegetables, salads and vegetable juice. Eggs also are a good source of vitamin A.
Selenium
Nutritionist Anne Collins advises eating foods containing selenium to support the thyroid. These include whole wheat bread, wheat bran, whole grain cereals, Brazil nuts, broccoli, onions, tomatoes, and oily fish such as tuna, mackerel, sardines, trout, herring and salmon. Collins also recommends eating more apricots, asparagus, avocado, bananas, sunflower seeds and olive oil.
Minerals and Tyrosine
Zinc and copper are beneficial for the thyroid, according to NaturalWays.com. You can obtain zinc by eating beef, chicken, seafood, oatmeal, wheat bran, nuts, seeds, beans, spinach and tuna. Copper is found in organ meats, eggs, yeast, legumes, nuts and raisins. The amino acid tyrosine is helpful for thyroid function as well, and can be obtained by eating beef, chicken and fish. NaturalWays.com recommends eating only free-range meat.
