Hypothyroidism Diet: Pay heed to these foods
Introduction To Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a medical condition where your body is not able to produce enough thyroid hormones. These thyroid hormones help controlling growth, metabolism, and cell repair. As a result, people with active hypothyroidism may experience fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, feeling cold and down, etc.
This article will highlight the best diet for hypothyroidism, food that you need to include, and food you need to avoid.
What Is Hypothyroidism?
A small, butterfly-shaped gland located near the base of your neck is known as a thyroid gland. Its function is to produce and store thyroid hormones and nearly affects every cell in your body. Thyroid hormones help to make you burn your calories faster, as they control your metabolism. People who have hypothyroidism produce fewer thyroid hormones and it means their metabolism is slow and they burn a lesser number of calories.
Include These Foods In Your Diet
There are a lot of food options available for the people living with hypothyroidism, some of these foods include:
- Vegetables: All vegetables are good and cruciferous vegetables are good to consume in moderate amount, especially when these are cooked
- Fruits: All fruits are good, including oranges, banana, berries, tomatoes, etc.
- Gluten-free grains and seeds: Chia seeds, flax seeds, rice, quinoa, and buckwheat
- Dairy products: All dairy products are good, including milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.
- Beverages: Water and non-caffeinated beverages, such as decaf green tea, probiotics, homemade breakfast smoothies, etc.
- Eggs: Whole eggs are the best option to include in your diet, as yolk part has of iodine and selenium and the white part is full of protein
- Meat: All types of meat are good, including chicken, lamb, beef, etc.
- Fish: All types of seafood, including tuna, salmon, shrimp, etc.
If you have hypothyroidism, then you should eat vegetables, fruits, and lean meats. These foods are low in calories and fill your stomach, which may prevent you from gaining extra weight
Avoid These Foods In Your Diet
Luckily, there is no need for you to avoid many food items if you have hypothyroidism. However, you should consider consuming foods at a moderate level that contains goitrogens and these are supposed to be cooked. Also, you should avoid eating processed foods as they are high on calories and can trigger weight gaining.
Following is the list of the food and supplements that you should avoid in your diet:
- Highly processed foods: Breakfast cereals, canned fruits, and vegetables, cakes, cookies, ready to eat meals and meat products such as bacon, sausages, salami, etc.
- Millets: All types of millets
- Supplements: Essential consumption of iodine and selenium are important for thyroid help, but too much of these may cause harm to your body.
Below is the list of food that you can include in your diet in moderation, as they include goitrogens and can irritate your thyroid gland if consumed in large amounts:
- Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, cabbage, kale, spinach, etc.
- Soy-based foods: Tofu, tempeh, soy milk, edamame beans, etc.
- Certain types of fruit: Pears, peaches, and strawberries
- Beverages: Alcohol, coffee and green tea
Hypothyroid is a global health problem and it almost affects 1-2% of people around the world. Eating the right nutrients and taking prescribed medications may help to lower down the symptoms of it and improve your thyroid function. Iodine, selenium, and zinc are the best nutrients for your thyroid. Following a thyroid-friendly can also help you to maintain weight, as it encourages you to eat lots of whole, unprocessed food, and lean protein.