It goes without saying that if you are suffering from hypothyroidism, you must ensure that you take medicines on time to manage your condition. In addition to medication, exercising regularly can help you to stay active and lower the risk of complications due to thyroid dysfunction. But incorporating a few diet changes can help you to keep you manage your condition and lead a healthy life.
Here are few diet tips for people with hypothyroidism that can help control the condition.
1. Eat a low-fat diet. Low levels of thyroid hormone can slow down your metabolism and weight management is an important part of your treatment. If you eat a diet high in fats, it can not only make you put on weight but also interfere with the thyroid function, making it worse. Hence, it is advised to cut down on processed and fried foods.
2. Include Vitamin D rich foods. According to a 2013 study published in the International Journal of Health Sciences, there is an association between Vitamin D deficiency and hypothyroidism. Vitamin D and calcium were found to be associated with normal levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), a hormone that regulates thyroid gland functioning. Moreover, these nutrients were found to decrease the severity of hypothyroidism. Here’s a list of Vitamin D rich foods.
3. Include antioxidant-rich foods. To ensure you increase your intake of antioxidants, include fresh fruits in your diet. Fruits such as bananas, berries and oranges are rich in vitamins and minerals, which improve the thyroid function. The antioxidants present in fruits reduce oxidative stress by eliminating free radicals.
4. Say yes to lean proteins. A diet higher in lean and balanced protein sources can support thyroid function. Lack of proteins in diet not only stresses the body but also slows down the overall metabolism, which further aggravates the condition. Hence, ensure you eat a diet high in lean proteins such as cheese, chicken breast and fish.
5. Avoid cruciferous vegetables. Yes, it is advised that people with low levels of thyroid should restrict the intake of cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. These vegetables release a compound known as goitrin, when broken down. This compound can interfere with the function of the thyroid hormones, further worsening the condition.
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References:
Mackawy AM, Al-Ayed BM, Al-Rashidi BM. Vitamin d deficiency and its association with thyroid disease. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2013 Nov;7(3):267-75.
Tonstad S, Nathan E, Oda K, Fraser G. Vegan diets and hypothyroidism. Nutrients. 2013 Nov 20;5(11):4642-52. doi: 10.3390/nu5114642.
Koppeschaar HP, Meinders AE, Schwarz F. The effect of a low-calorie diet alone and in combination with triiodothyronine therapy on weight loss and hypophyseal thyroid function in obesity. Int J Obes. 1983;7(2):123-31.
Felker P, Bunch R, Leung AM. Concentrations of thiocyanate and goitrin in human plasma, their precursor concentrations in brassica vegetables, and associated potential risk for hypothyroidism. Nutr Rev. 2016 Apr;74(4):248-58.