Wondering what to eat with an underactive thyroid? Our guide to a hypothyroidism diet may help you to manage symptoms
If you have just been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, you may be wondering whether there is a specific hypothyroidism diet that could help to treat your condition. Unfortunately, pharmaceutical medication is the only treatment that can restore your thyroid function. But this being said, certain nutritional factors may still provide some relief from your symptoms.
Here, we’ve put together a guide to what research tells us so far about a hypothyroidism diet. But as Mason stresses, “if you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, check immediately with your doctor and a qualified dietitian about an appropriate diet. It is important to get individual specialist advice on foods and nutrients as the intake of these will depend on the current health of your thyroid gland and the medication prescribed for you.
While we still don’t understand the full scope of interactions between underactive thyroid and dietary patterns, multiple studies suggest that eating plenty of foods rich in anti-inflammatory vitamins and minerals can be highly beneficial for the management of thyroid diseases. It’s also worth pointing out that iodine supplements need to be taken with caution. Scientists from the International Journal of Endocrinology suggest that certain at-risk individuals may actually develop thyroid problems when increasing their iodine intake. Meanwhile, researchers from the European Journal of Endocrinology indicate that we need more data to fully understand the potential risks and benefits of such supplementation.
According to The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism , low levels of selenium increase the risk of developing thyroid diseases. And as described in the International Journal of Endocrinology , supplementation with this trace mineral helps patients with autoimmune thyroid conditions get relief from their symptoms.
However, researchers from the Biological Trace Element Research journal point out that there is not enough evidence that zinc supplementation helps with hypothyroidism. Still, taking into account how crucial this nutrient is for overall health, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough of it.Zinc-rich foods include: Oysters, beef steak, chicken, tofu, lean pork chops, pumpkin seeds, lentils and low-fat yogurt.
Another study reported that low levels of B12 may be linked to autoimmune thyroid diseases. At the same time, researchers from the Clinical Medicine Insights did not find a similar link. Tyrosine Eating foods rich in tyrosine, a non-essential amino acid , could be another key component of a hypothyroidism diet. Tyrosine and iodine are needed for the proper functioning of thyroid hormones in the body. They may also help to burn more calories.
“Levothyroxine should be taken at the same time every day and on an empty stomach as it interacts with a bunch of foods and medications,” advises Giulia Guerrini, lead pharmacist at Medino . “It’s okay to have your morning tea or coffee 30 minutes after taking levothyroxine, but avoid eating yogurt, drinking milk, or having cheese and broccoli at least for another four hours, as these calcium-rich foods prevent you from absorbing the active ingredient.
In many cases, cooking can help to inactivate these compounds. Many recently published studies also question whether they are as harmful as we deem them to be. Soy and soy-based foodsFor many years, people with thyroid problems have been advised to avoid soy and soy-based foods like tofu and tempeh. Isoflavones, a common compound in soy, was deemed to be a powerful goitrogen.
Dietary fatThere is growing evidence that dietary fat may play a role in thyroid health. According to the Molecular Nutrition and Food Research journal, eating too much fat rich in saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids may interfere with thyroid hormone production and increase the risk of hypothyroidism.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How to Start Working Out in College If You’ve Never Exercised BeforeBuilding a good fitness routine during your college years can serve you well later in life.
Read more »
5 Gas-Busting TipsFind out how to prevent bloating with these expert-approved tips
Read more »
Queen Elizabeth II Disliked This Food So Much, It Was Banished From Buckingham Palace — Eat This Not ThatMany looked to Queen Elizabeth's diet to get a sense of what contributed to her incredible longevity—and it wasn't this food.
Read more »
Majority of Adults With EoE Achieve Histologic Response After SFEDFor most patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, symptoms can improve after patients complete the six-food elimination diet GastroTwitter EoE
Read more »
Four Major Climate Tipping Points Close to Triggering, Study SaysEven if the world somehow manages to limit future warming to the strictest international temperature goal, four Earth-changing climate “tipping points” are still likely to be triggered with a lot more looming as the planet heats more after that, a new study said.
Read more »
How To Help Reluctant Readers: 8 Expert Tips To Get Your Kid Into BooksThese expert tips for reluctant readers will help you stealthily motivate your child to read more — and be excited about it.
Read more »